Language and the Law in Deaf Communities

Introduction

Introduction Volume 9 of the Sociolinguistics in Deaf Communities series focuses on the area of forensic linguistics, that is, the area where language and the law intersect. As Roger Shuy (2001) points out, the use of the term forensic linguistics began in the 1980s and is now the accepted name for this area of study. Forensic linguistics has its own academic organization , The International Association of Forensic Linguistics, and its own journal, Forensic Linguistics. The focus of this volume is on where language and the law intersect in deaf communities, and as we see from each paper, this intersection is wide, deep, and of real consequence in the lives of everyday deaf people. Following Shuy’s introduction to the issue of the language problems experienced by minorities in legal settings , the papers explore the interrogation of deaf people (Hoopes), interpretation issues for juries that include deaf people (Mather and Mather), and the basic issue of word meanings in lay and legal contexts (Geer). The volume concludes with a piece by a public defender with extensive experience in practicing and teaching law but no specialized training or knowledge of the legal problems of deaf people (Castelle), the point being to capture an informed outside perspective. It is the hope of the editor and the contributors that this book will be of interest and use not only to linguists but also to anyone involved with and interested in legal issues as they impact deaf people. Since some of the authors in this book have not published in the area of sign sociolinguistics before, we are initiating a new tradition with the inclusion of brief author biographies. We will continue this tradition in subsequent volumes of the series. I am grateful to the contributors, the members of the editorial board, and to Robert Bayley, David Penna and Risa Shaw for their work in putting this volume together. I also gratefully acknowledge Ivey Pittle Wallace, the assistant editorial director, Deirdre Mullervy, managing editor , and Doug Roemer, copy editor, at Gallaudet University Press for their support, hard work, and enduring sense of humor. Ceil Lucas vii ...