Why do so many people voluntarily consent to searches by have the police search their person or vehicle when
they know that they are carrying contraband or evidence of illegal activity? Does everyone understand the Miranda
warning? How well can people recognize a voice on tape? Can linguistic experts identify who wrote an anonymous
threatening letter?
Speaking of Crime answers these questions and examines the complex role of language within our criminal justice
system. Lawrence M. Solan and Peter M. Tiersma compile numerous cases, ranging from the Lindbergh kidnapping to
the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton to the JonBenét Ramsey case, that provide real-life examples of how
language functions in arrests, investigations, interrogations, confessions, and trials. In a clear and accessible
style, Solan and Tiersma show how recent advances in the study of language can aid in understanding how legal problems
arise and how they might be solved.
With compelling discussions current issues and controversies, this book is a provocative state-of-the-art survey
that will be of enormous value to legal scholars and professionals throughout the criminal justice system.