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How linguists solve crimes, with Natalie Schilling

Oct 31, 2024

Natalie Schilling, a forensic linguist and professor emerita at Georgetown University, dives into how language can crack criminal cases. She discusses intriguing methods used to analyze manifestos, ransom notes, and social media communications. Listeners learn about the linguistic profiling of the Unabomber and the significance of dialect in investigations. Schilling also explains how emojis and texting styles offer critical clues in identifying suspects, revealing the rich interplay between language and law.

34:49

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Natalie Schilling

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Quick takeaways

Forensic linguistics applies linguistic analysis to criminal contexts, helping law enforcement identify suspects through unique language patterns and regional dialects.

Landmark cases, like the Unabomber's manifesto, demonstrate how linguistic features can provide critical evidence and insights during criminal investigations.

Deep dives

The Role of Forensic Linguistics

Forensic linguistics involves applying linguistic principles to legal contexts, focusing on how language interacts with the law. It includes analyzing language evidence in criminal cases, such as threats or anonymous communications, to identify suspects based on linguistic features. Linguists can determine various demographic factors from audio or written evidence, using details like regional accents and specific word choices. This scientific approach helps law enforcement narrow down their investigations by profiling speakers or authors.

Intro

3min

The Intricacies of Forensic Linguistics

10min

Linguistics in Criminal Investigations

4min

Unpacking Forensic Linguistics Through Language and Emojis

4min

Linguistic Profiling of the Unabomber

14min

Exploring Forensic Linguistics and Flexible Education

2min

1027. This week, I talk with forensic linguist Natalie Schilling about how people's language gives them away — in manifestos, ransom notes, text messages, and more.

Natalie Schilling is a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her on LinkedIn.

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