Implicature and Question Types of Police Interrogation: An Analysis of Communication in a Theft Case

Abstract

In the context of police questioning, effective communication was essential for getting reliable information, establishing reports, detecting deception, managing emotion and compliance with legal and ethical standards. This study analysed the implication and avoidance used in the communication and question types affected by witness responses in police interrogations on a theft case in Indonesia. The study aimed to find out how implication and avoidance were used in the conversation and how question type affected witness responses. The study employed a qualitative method, using investigation reports from Indonesia as the primary data source. The study found that four maxims were used in the interrogation conversation, namely the maxim of quantity, quality, relevance, and manner and there was some communication to lead avoidance. Avoidance was found in communication 7, 9, and 10. The police interrogator employed two types of questions: open-closed and closed-ended. However, the interrogator predominantly used closed-ended questions to obtain information from the witness. Overall, this study highlighted the importance of understanding implicatures and avoidance in communication and question types in police interrogations, particularly in cases of a criminal investigation. The findings of this study may assist in developing more effective interrogation techniques that uphold the witness's rights and facilitate the attainment of accurate information.