Forensic Linguistics in the Philippines

Abstract

This Element offers a critical review of forensic linguistic studies in the Philippines. The studies within, collected over a period of eight to nine years, reveal relevant themes from texts in courtroom proceedings, legal writings, and police investigations. The studies also delve into issues of language choice and language policy. The Element begins with a description of language policy in the Philippines, focusing specifically on language in the legal domain. The main body of the Element is the critical review of Philippine forensic linguistics studies. This critical review takes a sociolinguistic stance, in that issues of language and law are discussed from the lens of social meanings and social practice. From this critical review of forensic linguistics studies, the authors hope to chart future directions for forensic linguistic studies and research in the Philippines.