Language Crimes: The Use and Abuse of Language Evidence in the Courtroom

Solicitation to murder, bribery, threatening, extortion, perjury – all these are criminal acts whose medium is language. Since the 1970s American law enforcement agencies have been covertly tape recording conversations to bring such crimes to justice. With increasing frequency the decision of the court has come to turn on this taped evidence – and on unravelling the ambiguity and misunderstanding such evidence brings. Language Crimes tells the story of some of the remarkable cases in which Roger Shuy, as a linguist, has served as an expert witness. They include the trial of automobile executive John DeLorean and the U. S. Senate hearing concerning disciplinary action to be taken against Senator Harrison A Williams in the wake of the FBI′s Abscam operation, as well as the cases of lesser known, average Americans, including a San Jose jeweller, a Honolulu union representative, a Kansas City lawyer and two Nevada brothel commissioners. These are intriguing stories which show the power of the study of language to assist the courts to achieve justice.

Preface: New Directions. 1. Misconceptions about Language in Law Cases. 2. Bribery. 3. Offering Bribes. 4. Agreeing. 5. Threatening. 6. Admitting. 7. Telling the Truth Versus Perjury. 8. Promising. 9. Asking Questions. 10. On Testifying.

Roger W. Shuy is Professor of Linguistics at Georgetown University. In the past decade he has been consulted in over 200 criminal and civil law cases and has testified as an expert witness in 35 trials. He is former President of the American Association of Applied Linguistics.

"Roger Shuy′s book explores some of the most fascinating trials in recent times. His use of linguistic analysis in hearings that involve crimes of language is stunningly creative and makes for gripping reading." Elizabeth Loftus, University of Washington "Dr Roger Shuy′s Language Crimes is an important book. Through the use of materials taken from a series of actual criminal prosecutions, Shuy amply shows the value of sophisticated linguistics analysis for the proper interpretations of oral conversations recorded on electronic tape. Shuy′s book, too, is easily read by those without a technical background in linguistics, as he keeps his use of professional jargon to the minimum. As such, Language Crimes should be read – and studied – by all those involved in investigating, prosecuting, defending, and judging in the administration of justice." G. Robert Blakey, The Notre Dame Law School Language Crimes is a clear and lively exposition of one linguist′s important work in bringing the knowledge and skills developed by linguistics into the courtroom, where (as he demonstrates) they are badly needed." Robin Lakoff, University of California, Berkeley "An excellent work for the student, the lawyer, and the lingust who may not have explored this field at all. The field of Language and Law can truly be seen as having come of age when so prominent a scholar as Roger Shuy has brought forth so readable a volume." American Speech "A valualbe addition to the understanding of both linguists and lawyers of the contributions the work of the former can make to that of the latter." Book Reviews "Clear and readable book" Language in Society