Language Crimes The Use and Abuse of Language Evidence in the Courtroom

Solicitation to murder, bribery, threatening, extortion, perjury--all thse are criminal acts whose medium is language. Since the 1970s American law enforcement agencies have been covertly tape recording conversations to bring such crimes to justice. With increasing frequency the decision of the court has come to turn on this taped evidence--and unravelling the ambiguity and misunderstanding that such evidence brings. Language Crimes tells the story of some of the remarkable cases that Roger Shuy, as a linguist, has served as an expert witness. They include: • the trial of automobile executive John Z. DeLorean • the US Senate hearing concerning disciplinary action to be taken against Senator Harrison A. Williams in the wake of the FBI's Abscam operation and the cases of lesser known, average Americans, including a San Jose jeweller, a Honolulu union representative, a Kansas City lawyer, and two Nevada brothel commissioners.