STRATEGIC LANGUAGE USE AND POWER IN COURTROOM DISCOURSE: A FORENSIC LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF AN ACCUSED’S STATEMENT
Keywords:
Cooperative Principle, Courtroom Discourse, Forensic Linguistics, Grice’s Maxims, Narrative ControlAbstract
This study examines the courtroom statement of Manzoor Ali, accused of murder under Section 342 Cr.P.C., through the lens of forensic linguistics. Using Grice’s Cooperative Principle and its Maxims of Quality, Quantity, Relation, and Manner, the research analyzes how the accused strategically responds to 16 court questions to assert innocence, challenge evidence, and manipulate discourse. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses reveal systematic violations of Maxims, particularly Quality and Quantity, highlighting the role of language as a tool of power, resistance, and narrative control in legal settings. The study demonstrates that courtroom language is not neutral but a site of negotiation, where institutional authority and individual strategy intersect.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Sanaullah, Mustafa Khan, Numan Anwar (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
