| Foundational knowledge in language structure and use, which may be obtained from AS163 (Introduction to Linguistics), IAS165 (Language in Society), IAS269 (Word and Sentence Structure: Morphology and Syntax), IAS302 (Language, Crime, and the Law: Foundations of Forensic Linguistics), TES102 (Language, Meaning and Learning), TES307 (Global Englishes), TES204 (Understanding Language Acquisition), or from any unit in sociolinguistics, pragmatics or semantics. |
| This unit provides an advanced and critical exploration of forensic linguistics at the intersection of language, law, and crime in both national and international contexts. Building on foundational concepts, students examine complex issues in authorship analysis, linguistic profiling, and the investigation of serious language crimes, including stance in threatening communications, stance and disinformation in incitement texts, and linguistic profiling in violent and hateful extremism. The unit places particular emphasis on evaluating and integrating genre and register analysis, corpus linguistics, and AI-assisted approaches to threat assessment, with a focus on systemic functional linguistics, corpus-based discourse analysis, and generative AI in the examination of forensic texts. Students will critically engage with emerging debates in the field, assess the investigative and evidential value of linguistic analysis, and reflect on the linguist's role in legal proceedings. They are expected to demonstrate advanced research and analytical capacity, as well as the ability to critically appraise methodologies and their applications in forensic practice. |
