Exploring the Language of Investigation: a Forensic Linguistics Approach

Abstract

This current research takes a deep dive into the language of investigation, through analysing the units of the language used inside interrogation rooms during criminal investigation. The study aims at uncovering the linguistic techniques employed by Algerian investigating magistrates during suspect interrogation, as well as determining the factors that influence their linguistic choice. The method used in this study is corpus-based discourse analysis. Two research instruments are utilised; a critical discourse analysis where transcribed interrogations from different criminal charges are analysed. The second instrument is an interview that is held with (3) investigating magistrates .The questions are designed to determine the factors influencing their linguistic choice during the interrogations. Hence, the results obtained from the data collected show that repeating, formulating, and reporting are of a significant importance in the fact- making process during the interrogations. As well as suspects without prior criminal backgrounds are more inclined to confess their crimes than those arrested in the past, which turns to have a major role in determining the IMs linguistic choice. Overall, we could conclude that Algerian investigating magistrates use conversational management to elicit information from criminal suspects.