FORENSIC

STYLISTICS
• Forensic stylistics is a branch of forensic linguistics that focuses on the
analysis of written or spoken language to help solve crimes or provide
evidence in legal cases. It involves the examination of linguistic
features, such as word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, and
writing style, to determine authorship or identify characteristics of a
text that can be used in legal proceedings. Here are some key aspects
of forensic stylistics:
• Authorship Attribution:
• Forensic stylistics can be used to determine who wrote a particular
document or text. Linguists analyze various linguistic features in the text,
such as vocabulary, grammar, and writing style, to identify patterns and
unique characteristics that may be associated with a specific author.
• Examples:
• Identifying Anonymous Online Posts
• In online communities, identifying the authors of anonymous or
pseudonymous posts can be crucial for various reasons, such as
uncovering cyberbullying, tracking down trolls, or verifying the
authenticity of claims made in forums or comment sections.
• Machine learning techniques can be employed to compare the linguistic
features of these posts with the known writing styles of potential
authors, helping to narrow down the list of suspects.
• Threat Analysis:
• In cases involving threats, harassment, or extortion, forensic stylistics can be used
to analyze the language used in the threatening messages to provide insights into
the author's identity, mindset, or potential location.
• Scenario: A public high school is conducting a threat analysis to ensure the safety
of its students and staff.
• Threat Identification
• Vulnerability Assessment
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Prioritization
• Mitigation Strategies
• Emergency Response Planning
• Training and Education
• Community Involvement
• Monitoring and Review
• Crisis Communication
• Plagiarism Detection:
• Forensic stylistics can be employed to detect cases of plagiarism by
comparing the linguistic features of a suspected plagiarized text with
the original source. Linguistic analysis can reveal similarities in writing
style that may indicate plagiarism.
• Scenario: A public high school is conducting a threat analysis to ensure
the safety of its students and staff.
• Plagiarism Detection Steps:
• Document Submission
• Text Comparison
• Text Matching
• Review and Evaluation
• Originality Report
• Decision and Action
•
• Fraud Detection:
• In cases involving fraudulent documents or contracts, forensic linguists can
examine linguistic elements in the documents to determine if they were altered or
forged. This can include analyzing handwriting, text consistency, or language
inconsistencies.
• Fraud Detection Steps:
• Data Collection
• Data Preprocessing
• Anomaly Detection
• Pattern Analysis
• Access Control Monitoring
• Access Control Monitoring
• Manual Review and Investigation
• Documentation and Reporting
• Training and Awareness
• Preventive Measures
• Expert Witness Testimony:
Forensic stylists may be called upon as expert witnesses in legal cases
to provide their analysis and opinions on matters related to language,
writing style, and authorship.
Scenario: A parent is suing a school district, alleging that their child's
learning disability was not properly addressed, resulting in a failure to
provide the necessary accommodations. The case is brought to court,
and an expert witness is called to testify.
Expert Witness Role and Testimony:
• Qualification of the Expert
• Understanding the Student's Situation
• Assessment and Diagnosis
• IEP Review
• Educational Best Practices
• Compliance with Federal and State Laws
• Causation and Impact
• Recommendations
• Cross-Examination
• Expert Opinion
• Threat Assessment:
• Analyzing written or spoken threats can help assess the credibility and severity of a threat.
Forensic stylists can provide insights into the potential danger posed by a threat based on
linguistic analysis.
• Scenario: A high school receives information about a student who has made concerning
statements and gestures that could be interpreted as threats to the safety of others. The
school administration initiates a threat assessment process.
• Information Gathering
• Assessment Team Formation
• Initial Risk Assessment
• Interview with the Student
• Parent/Guardian Involvement
• Safety Planning
• Intervention and Support
• Monitoring and Follow-Up
• Communication and Reporting
• Documentation
• Legal and Ethical Considerations
• Reintegration or Further Action
• Linguistic Profiling:
• Forensic stylistics can be used to create profiles of unknown authors
based on their writing style. This can be particularly useful in criminal
investigations when trying to narrow down a list of suspects.
• Scenario: A new student, Maria, transfers to a predominantly English-
speaking school. Maria's primary language is Spanish, and she speaks
with a noticeable accent. She is placed in a standard English-speaking
class without any assessment of her English language proficiency.
• Initial Assessment
• Class Placement
• Teacher Expectations
• Social Isolation
• Communication Difficulties
• Potential Educational Impact
• Psychological and Emotional Impact
• Voice Analysis:
• In cases involving voice recordings, forensic stylistics may include the analysis of
speech patterns, accent, and vocal characteristics to identify or compare
speakers.
• Scenario: A speech-language pathologist (SLP) at an elementary school uses voice
analysis to assess and assist students with speech and language difficulties.
• Speech Assessment
• Identification of Speech Disorders
• Individualized Intervention Plans
• Progress Monitoring
• Accent Reduction Programs
• Language Learning Support
• Assistive Technology
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration
• Parent Involvement
• Forensic stylistics is a part of forensic linguistics. In general, forensic
stylistics is the application of stylistics to crime detection. Through the
stylistic analysis of language use at the different levels of language
description, it is possible to determine the author of a text. This may
be applied to confessional statements to the police. Issues like voice
recognition, identification of regional accents are often studied to
arrive at useful conclusions in terms of crime detection (see Bloor, M.
and Bloor, T. 2007).