Sociolinguistics and the Legal Process

Abstract

Language is central to the legal process: written laws, judicial decisions, police interviews, competing claims in a dispute, courtroom evidence, legal argument, mediation hearings, all of these events or products of the legal process are carried out through language, whether written or spoken or both. Lawyers have to be 'good with language' to succeed in their profession. Indeed, some might argue that success in any legal process depends to a considerable degree on the linguistic dexterity of participants, including witnesses, litigants and legal professionals. This book is intended as a textbook for a university or college postgraduate or advanced undergraduate course in which sociolinguistics is used in an examination of the legal process. Some students will know nothing about the legal process, and some will know nothing about sociolinguistics. ... Further background about sociolinguistics and law will be provided as necessary throughout the text.