Abstract
Child victim witnesses, when being cross-examined in adult criminal court, are subjected to a range of punitive linguistic strategies. The meaning and essence of their own experiences are systematically denied. Credibility is reduced and all problems are made, as in soap operas, personal rather than systemic or social. This process is created by and viewable through linguistic activity. Language as a social human activity has itself to become the focus of our attention and critique. Interview, observation, and transcript data have been analysed and cross-referenced to define and describe the ‘strange language’ to which child victim witnesses are subjected during their court appearance. Further, the process of cross-examination is shown to be grounded in a specifiable discourse … the ‘discourse of denial’. This punitive linguistic style has everything to do with the battle for credibility and little to do with the administration of justice. The specific tactics and strategies are identified.
Published Version
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