by Jessica, A Level English Language student

Loreto’s English Language students took part in a session with Dr Matthew Evans, a linguistics lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and assistant editor of Babel: The Language Magazine. He discussed the subject of forensic linguistics and its application as evidence in court. We examined real-life criminal cases, such as the Unabomber and the Yorkshire Ripper. It was interesting to learn how linguistics can be applied to different situations and could be useful in helping solve crimes. We explored how even minor differences in language use can be extremely significant in the bigger picture.

Dr Evans introduced the various methods forensic linguists use to analyse a variety of texts, using real-life cases to demonstrate the different areas of language forensic linguists use to investigate. As part of the session, the students then got a chance to try and see if they could spot linguistic differences between text messages that were used to convict the murderer of Jenny Nicholl in 2008. It was challenging to have a more university-style activity, especially one where you had to pay close attention to textual detail. However, it was rewarding to find the differences and interesting to see a small part of the forensic linguistic process.