Creating language crimes : how law enforcement uses (and misuses) language /
"Shuy provides compelling case studies of how language functions in investigations involving, among others, wired undercover operatives, and the interrogation of suspects. He makes the point that language evidence can be as important as physical evidence, but yet does not enjoy the same degree...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford ; New York :
Oxford University Press,
2005.
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| Online Access: | Table of contents Table of contents Contributor biographical information Publisher description |
| Summary: | "Shuy provides compelling case studies of how language functions in investigations involving, among others, wired undercover operatives, and the interrogation of suspects. He makes the point that language evidence can be as important as physical evidence, but yet does not enjoy the same degree of scrutiny by investigators, attorneys, and the courts. Beyond this, however, his more controversial thesis is that police frequently misuse or manipulate language, using various powerful controversial strategies, in order to intentionally create an impression of the targets' guilt or even to get them to confess." "This book makes its case by analyzing a dozen criminal cases involving a variety of crimes, such as fraud, bribery, stolen property, murder, and others. About half involve co-operating witnesses who do the tape recording, and the other half undercover police officers. These cases demonstrate how undercover operatives use different conversational strategies, such as overlapping conversation, ambiguity, interruption, refusing to take "no" for an answer, and others to create a negative impression of the targets on later listeners." "Creating Language Crimes provides a window into a little-known and discussed facet of law enforcement. It will appeal to anyone concerned with language (particularly sociolinguists and discourse analysts), as well as to those involved in law enforcement and criminal cases."--Jacket. |
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| Physical Description: | xiv, 194 pages ; 22 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-190) and index. |
| ISBN: | 0195181662 9780195181661 |