Policespeak
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Phil Hall
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the spoken language of police communication or “policespeak”. It examines a number of the readily recognisable clichés and formulaic expressions that are widely regarded as characteristic of policespeak. It also looks at some facets of police work which promote specific behaviours which are less overtly characteristic of policespeak but are nonetheless strongly motivated by the demands of their contexts of use. The final portion of the chapter shows how policespeak is used as means of accommodation by interactants who are not police officers. In addressing policespeak from these various angles, the chapter attempts where possible and practical to address the contextual factors motivating the observed behaviours.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the spoken language of police communication or “policespeak”. It examines a number of the readily recognisable clichés and formulaic expressions that are widely regarded as characteristic of policespeak. It also looks at some facets of police work which promote specific behaviours which are less overtly characteristic of policespeak but are nonetheless strongly motivated by the demands of their contexts of use. The final portion of the chapter shows how policespeak is used as means of accommodation by interactants who are not police officers. In addressing policespeak from these various angles, the chapter attempts where possible and practical to address the contextual factors motivating the observed behaviours.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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Part I. The language of the law
- The nature of legal language 7
- Language education for law professionals 27
- The language and communication of jury instruction 47
- Policespeak 67
- Legal translation 95
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Part II. The language of the court
- Questioning in common law criminal courts 115
- Bilingual courtrooms: In the interests of justice? 131
- The silent witness: Pragmatic and literal interpretations 161
- Language and disadvantage before the law 179
- Interpreting for the minority 197
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Part III. Forensic linguistic evidence
- Approaching questions in forensic authorship analysis 215
- Trademarks and other proprietary terms 231
- Deception and fraud 249
- Plagiarism 265
- Contributors 301
- Language index 307
- Subject index 309
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. The language of the law
- The nature of legal language 7
- Language education for law professionals 27
- The language and communication of jury instruction 47
- Policespeak 67
- Legal translation 95
-
Part II. The language of the court
- Questioning in common law criminal courts 115
- Bilingual courtrooms: In the interests of justice? 131
- The silent witness: Pragmatic and literal interpretations 161
- Language and disadvantage before the law 179
- Interpreting for the minority 197
-
Part III. Forensic linguistic evidence
- Approaching questions in forensic authorship analysis 215
- Trademarks and other proprietary terms 231
- Deception and fraud 249
- Plagiarism 265
- Contributors 301
- Language index 307
- Subject index 309
