Clarification of the issues in language analysis: a rejoinder to Fraser and Verrips
Issue: Vol 19 No. 1 (2012)
Journal: International Journal of Speech Language and the Law
Subject Areas: Linguistics
Abstract:
Volume 18.1 (2011) of this journal presented two responses to my article ‘The role of linguists and native speakers in language analysis for the determination of speaker origin’, published in volume 17.1 (2010). Both Helen Fraser and Maaike Verrips pick up on eight cases presented in my article, and question whether these cases have any implications for the ‘Guidelines’. The responses compel me to bring forward a direct connection between the eight cases and the ‘Guidelines’. In this rejoinder, the impact of the eight cases on the ‘Guidelines’ is spelled out. Secondly, various arguments relevant to the ‘linguist vs native speaker debate’ are distinguished, in order to increase understanding of the controversy. Finally, this rejoinder reflects on how this debate could have become polarised.
Author: Tina Cambier-Langeveld
References :
Baltisberger, E. and Hubbuch, P. (2010) LADO with specialised linguists – The development of LINGUA’s working method. In K. Zwaan, M. Verrips and P. Muysken (eds.) Language and Origin: The Role of Language in European Asylum Procedure: A Linguistic and Legal Survey 9–19. Nijmegen: Wolf Legal Publishers.
Cambier-Langeveld, T. (2007) Hot issues in the field of ‘Language Analysis’. IAFPA 16th Annual Conference, Plymouth, UK, 22–25 July 2007.
Cambier-Langeveld, T. (2010a) The role of linguists and native speakers in language analysis for the determination of speaker origin. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law 17(1): 67–93.
Cambier-Langeveld, T. (2010b) The validity of language analysis in the Netherlands. In K. Zwaan, M. Verrips and P. Muysken (eds.) Language and Origin: The Role of Language in European Asylum Procedure: A Linguistic and Legal Survey 21–33. Nijmegen: Wolf Legal Publishers.
Cambier-Langeveld, T. (2010c) Performance of native speakers and linguists in LADO cases with the true origin established. IAFPA 19th Annual Conference, Trier, Germany, 18–21 July 2010.
Dixon, R.M.W. (2010) Basic Linguistic Theory. Vol. 1. Methodology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Eades, D. and Arends, J. (2004) Using language analysis in the determination of national origin of asylum seekers: an introduction. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law 11(2): 179–199. http://dx.doi.org/10.1558/sll.2004.11.2.179
Eriksson, A. (2008) Guidelines? What guidelines? IAFPA 17th Annual Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland, 20–23 July 2008.
Foulkes, P. and Wilson, K. (2011) Language analysis for the determination of origin: an empirical study. In Proceedings of the 17th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, Hong Kong, 17–21 August 2011, 691–694. www.icphs2011.hk/resources/OnlineProceedings/RegularSession/Foulkes/Foulkes.pdf
Fraser, H. (2009) The role of ‘educated native speakers’ in providing language analysis for the determination of the origin of asylum seekers. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law 16(1): 113–138.
Fraser, H. (2011) The role of linguists and native speakers in language analysis for the determination of speaker origin: a response to Tina Cambier-Langeveld. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law 18(1): 121–130.
Köster, O., Kehrein, R., Masthoff, K. and Boubaker, Y.H. (2012) The tell-tale accent: identification of regionally marked speech in German telephone conversations by forensic phoneticians. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law 19(1): 51–71.
Language and National Origin Group (2004) Guidelines for the use of language analysis in relation to questions of national origin in refugee cases. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law 11(2): 261–266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1558/sll.2004.11.2.261
Verrips, M. (2011) LADO and the pressure to draw strong conclusions: a response to Tina Cambier-Langeveld. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law 18(1): 131–143.
Wilson, K. (2009) Language analysis for the determination of origin: native speakers vs. trained linguists. MSc dissertation, University of York.