Leading Question as a Category of Forensic Linguistic Examination

The article discusses the phenomenon of a leading question as an object of forensic linguistic examination. It shows that the leading question (i) contains semantic information in the form of a proposition (propositional criterion), (ii) brings information within the field of a respondent’s view (re...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: A. Baranov
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science 2025-01-01
Series:Теория и практика судебной экспертизы
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tipse.ru/jour/article/view/850
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849252916085391360
author A. Baranov
author_facet A. Baranov
author_sort A. Baranov
collection DOAJ
description The article discusses the phenomenon of a leading question as an object of forensic linguistic examination. It shows that the leading question (i) contains semantic information in the form of a proposition (propositional criterion), (ii) brings information within the field of a respondent’s view (relevance criterion), and (iii) reflects the version of the described events that is desirable for an inquirer (engagement criterion). Linguistic examination allows to conclude on the fulfillment of the propositional criterion and the criterion of relevance. The criterion of engagement refers to extralinguistic knowledge and can rarely be proven as the result of the corresponding discourse analysis by linguistic instruments only. The paper analyses the examples of leading questions’ functioning in real discourse including their use in interrogations at the investigative stage and in court hearings. It highlights those segments of the semantics of ‘yes/no-’ and ‘wh-questions’ that are most often used by experienced communicators toconvey their ideas on the most likely answer to the interlocutor. Related phenomena of investigative and judicial discourse are also discussed: tips and “augmented reality” situations.The phenomenon of the leading question should be considered as the interdisciplinary one, having not only linguistic, but also psychological and legal aspects. From the methodological point of view, linguistic examination allows to identify only the linguistic features of leading questions proper – presence of a proposition and relevance (introduction of information into the view field of an addressee). Engagement as a feature of the leading question lies beyond the scope of linguistic knowledge.
format Article
id doaj-art-0168dcc0f31e4b85af36afefffc17522
institution Kabale University
issn 1819-2785
2587-7275
language Russian
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science
record_format Article
series Теория и практика судебной экспертизы
spelling doaj-art-0168dcc0f31e4b85af36afefffc175222025-08-20T03:56:29ZrusMinistry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Russian Federal Centre of Forensic ScienceТеория и практика судебной экспертизы1819-27852587-72752025-01-0119461710.30764/1819-2785-2024-4-6-17730Leading Question as a Category of Forensic Linguistic ExaminationA. Baranov0V.V. Vinogradov Russian Language Institute of the Russian Academy of SciencesThe article discusses the phenomenon of a leading question as an object of forensic linguistic examination. It shows that the leading question (i) contains semantic information in the form of a proposition (propositional criterion), (ii) brings information within the field of a respondent’s view (relevance criterion), and (iii) reflects the version of the described events that is desirable for an inquirer (engagement criterion). Linguistic examination allows to conclude on the fulfillment of the propositional criterion and the criterion of relevance. The criterion of engagement refers to extralinguistic knowledge and can rarely be proven as the result of the corresponding discourse analysis by linguistic instruments only. The paper analyses the examples of leading questions’ functioning in real discourse including their use in interrogations at the investigative stage and in court hearings. It highlights those segments of the semantics of ‘yes/no-’ and ‘wh-questions’ that are most often used by experienced communicators toconvey their ideas on the most likely answer to the interlocutor. Related phenomena of investigative and judicial discourse are also discussed: tips and “augmented reality” situations.The phenomenon of the leading question should be considered as the interdisciplinary one, having not only linguistic, but also psychological and legal aspects. From the methodological point of view, linguistic examination allows to identify only the linguistic features of leading questions proper – presence of a proposition and relevance (introduction of information into the view field of an addressee). Engagement as a feature of the leading question lies beyond the scope of linguistic knowledge.https://www.tipse.ru/jour/article/view/850leading questionforensic linguistic examinationsemantics and pragmatics of a questionsemantic setting of a questioninitial assumptionyes/no- questionswh-questions
spellingShingle A. Baranov
Leading Question as a Category of Forensic Linguistic Examination
Теория и практика судебной экспертизы
leading question
forensic linguistic examination
semantics and pragmatics of a question
semantic setting of a question
initial assumption
yes/no- questions
wh-questions
title Leading Question as a Category of Forensic Linguistic Examination
title_full Leading Question as a Category of Forensic Linguistic Examination
title_fullStr Leading Question as a Category of Forensic Linguistic Examination
title_full_unstemmed Leading Question as a Category of Forensic Linguistic Examination
title_short Leading Question as a Category of Forensic Linguistic Examination
title_sort leading question as a category of forensic linguistic examination
topic leading question
forensic linguistic examination
semantics and pragmatics of a question
semantic setting of a question
initial assumption
yes/no- questions
wh-questions
url https://www.tipse.ru/jour/article/view/850
work_keys_str_mv AT abaranov leadingquestionasacategoryofforensiclinguisticexamination