The Chartered Institute of Linguists is organizing an Interpreting Division event “Forensic Linguistics & Interpreting – where do they meet” at the Novotel, London City South in the UK, on Saturday 9 November 2013.

Applications must be made by Friday 1 November 2013, and if the event is oversubscribed, places will be allocated first to members of the Interpreting Division, and then on a first come, first served basis.

PROGRAMME

An introduction to forensic linguistics with Dr. Krzysztof Kredens

Dr Kredens is Deputy Director of Aston University’s Centre for Forensic Linguistics and an elected member of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Forensic Linguists. His main research interests are in forensic authorship analysis and interpreting issues in investigative interviewing, as evidenced by his publications and conference papers in the area. He has produced expert reports for Crown and Magistrates’ Courts and the London Court of International Arbitration, and trained police forces in England and Wales.

This session will provide a general overview of the field of forensic linguistics, focussing on its investigative and evidential applications. It will address in particular how language description can inform authorship analysis of anonymous texts (e.g. extortion letters or suicide notes), and pragmatic analysis of content in legal disputes over the meaning of legislative acts, contracts, evidential transcripts of speech or allegedly defamatory or threatening language.

Networking lunch

Interpreting in the criminal justice system – a forensic linguistic perspective with Dr. Krzysztof Kredens

This session will demonstrate how and to what extent second language speakers can be disadvantaged in the criminal justice system, whether as witnesses or suspects. It will also consider the interpreter’s role in legal and forensic contexts and ask whether the role expectations of the stakeholders can be met.

Investigative interviewing: a police officer’s perspective with Marie Allen

Marie specialises in training police investigators in the skill of gathering evidence from suspects and witnesses in serious and complex cases. She is an Interview Advisor who has assisted in high profile criminal investigations where the use of interpreters has been pivotal to the investigation. Marie’s personal interest in her field of expertise is developing good quality rapport with vulnerable people. She currently works within South Yorkshire and Humberside Police.

This session will provide an overview of the police interview with a focus on second language speakers as suspects and witnesses. The purpose and structure of the police interview and the misconceptions surrounding it will be explored and issues inherent in working with people from different cultural backgrounds (including second language speakers) will be discussed.

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Please consult full details of the event here, together with the registration form.

As a little puzzle for you – who can discover the ‘timely’ origin of the anonymous letter above? 🙂