Documenting Forensic Linguistics in the African Context

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Documenting Forensic Linguistics in the African Context is written by Monwabisi K. Ralarala and published by Elton Pullen. It's available with International Standard Book Number or ISBN identification 1991260822 (ISBN 10) and 9781991260826 (ISBN 13).

The field of forensic linguistics, which integrates the fields of language and the law, is not only a necessity in Africa but also a lifeblood in the entire administration of justice. Hopefully, the emergence of this field and the inroads it is bound to make on the multilingual and culturally diverse continent shall ameliorate the adverse effects of the African diaspora, given the high density of languages and the polarity of its people. Notwithstanding the noble intentions of administrators of justice, the language and interpretation/translation barriers, which often hinder the desired results. This is not only prevalent in the criminal justice system but also rears its ugly head in civil trials. Awareness of such shortcomings must be heightened, especially among presiding officers, legal practitioners, and law enforcement officers. The series of books on Forensic Linguistics, Language and Law should not be for the preserve and benefit of scholars in this field, but also be distributed and promoted among all for the benefit of the wider community, especially in the legal field. - Advocate Babalo Metu: Also Acting Judge of the Eastern Cape Division and the Labour Court Documenting Forensic Linguistics in the African Context breaks new ground in exploring these critical questions. Through 14 comprehensive chapters, leading scholars examine the intricate relationship between language and law in Africa’s multilingual courtrooms. From police interview models to witness statement analysis, from authorship identification to the challenges of training forensic linguists, this volume offers unprecedented insights into the complexities of legal linguistics in African contexts. This groundbreaking work, an essential reading for legal practitioners, linguists, scholars, and anyone interested in the intersection of language, law, and justice in contemporary Africa, arrives at a crucial moment, as forensic linguistics emerges as a vital field across Africa. Rich in both theoretical foundations and practical applications, it sets a new agenda for understanding how language shapes justice in multilingual, multicultural societies. - Professor Felix Banda: Linguistics Department, University of the Western Cape, South Africa