Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics - AIFL

13/12/2021

📢AIFL is inviting applications for 3⃣ fully-funded PhD scholarships commencing in Sept '22 for 3 years.

These are:
1⃣ x Open
2⃣ x Directed (Centre for Forensic Text Analysis & Centre for Language and Law)

Details: https://t.co/qHWkK3NPgV

Apply by 4pm (UK) on 28th Feb '22!

College of Business and Social Sciences PhD StudentshipsFurther details and the application process are outlined belowThe College of Business and Social Sciences (BSS) is a multi-disciplinary research-focused College which brings together researchers in Aston Business School (ABS), Aston Law School....

26/04/2021

If you missed spending a few hours with us (although still remotely), you will be happy to know that we have exciting new! Our next (online) symposium 'Idiolectal Variation Across Discourse Types' will be held on 6 May.
Find the programme and register below ⬇⬇

Idiolectal variation across discourse types, 6 May 2021

19/04/2021

After the Easter break we are ready to start again with our Thursday talks!

This week, (22 April, 4-5 pm BST) we have Judith Reynolds from Cardiff University talking about 'Legal advice as intercultural communication: Thinking beyond the legal-lay dichotomy in immigration legal advice practice'

Check our website (below) and Twitter () to know more about each week's appointments and how to register!

We hold weekly seminars on Thursday afternoons 4-5pm and larger symposia each semester. See our past events here.For further linguistic events at Aston please see here.Major Events The 15th Conference of the International Association of Forensic LinguisticsIAFL15 will now be held online, hosted b...

12/04/2021

Only 4 weeks until our next symposium, 'Idiolectal Variation Across Discourse Types' on 6 May (online)!
We surely are looking forward to it! Find the programme and register to join us at the link below ⬇😀

Idiolectal variation across discourse types, 6 May 2021

24/03/2021

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for our last before the Easter break! (⬇️)
We will come back with more exciting news and events in mid-April. Check this space and our website for all info :)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/examining-the-use-and-disguise-of-persuasion-tickets-140787205321

16/03/2021

And that's a wrap! Thank you to all authors who submitted their work for the 15th IAFL conference!! Good luck to you all for the reviewing process and we hope to finally see you in person in Birmingham this September!
For any information on conference registration and attendance, see the official website (⬇️)

IAFL15: The 15th Conference of the International Association of Forensic Linguists: New Dates announced January 16, 20210   The 15th Biennial Conference of the International Association of Forensic Linguists (IAFL) will be hosted by the Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics (AIFL), Aston Univers...

16/02/2021

Have you listened to our new podcast episode 'Online abuse: understanding what's offensive' with Dr Tamineh Tayebi () ?

Listen to the full episode here
⬇️⬇️⬇️

Society matters podcastAcademic insights into real world mattersListen now on SpotifyListen now on SpotifySociety matters is a podcast from the School of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) at Aston University. The podcast series, presented by journalist Steve Dyson, explores some of the fascinat...

23/12/2020

The Aston Institute for forensic linguistics wishes you happy holidays! (Graphic courtesy of our talented Annie!)

16/12/2020

A little late this week, let us introduce our newest research associate, Ralph Morton ()!
WHAT'S YOUR RESEARCH FIELD? Corpus Assisted Discourse Analysis, Institutional Discourse, Language of Youth Justice.
Currently I’m working with Tim Grant looking at the language used in online child abuse.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A LINGUIST? The linguistics programme at Aston! I studied for an MA here 11 years ago specialising in Corpus Linguistics and Forensic Linguistics. Authorship analysis was my particular area of interest.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO JOIN THE NEW AIFL? I’d been looking to move back towards the Language and Law research I’d been introduced to at Aston since completing my PhD 4 years ago. I worked on a project at Loughborough University looking at the linguistic challenges children in the youth justice system face. And this year I’ve been working on the ‘Language of DIY Justice’ project at BCU. So I was delighted when a chance to join the Institute came up.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK/TV SHOW? Book: Not sure about all-time, but this year I’ve enjoyed ‘Brit(ish)’ by Afua Hirsch and ‘Trouble Boys’ by Bob Mehr.
TV Show: ‘Freaks and Geeks’
RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOU? I’ve released 5 albums with a band called The Shalfonts, and 6 with a band called Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam.

07/12/2020

let's start a new week by introducing one of our newest Research Associates, Neus Alberich ().
WHAT'S YOUR FIELD OF RESEARCH? As a newbie in the academic world, I’m still figuring out what my specific field of research is. I’m currently working on idiolectal styles with a focus on genre effects, but I’m also interested in persuasive language and critical discourse analysis.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A LINGUIST?Growing up in Catalonia (region in north-east Spain with a very interesting language contact situation) made me aware of the importance of language in our everyday life. I came across FL on the very first day of my undergraduate studies and was fascinated with it immediately.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO JOIN THE NEW AIFL? I followed the recommendations of a well-known forensic linguist () to do my MA FL at Aston. During my studies, I fell in love with the research culture at the Institute and couldn’t miss the opportunity to join such an amazing team.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURIRE BOOK? “La plaça del Diamant” by Mercè Rodoreda (a Catalan classic).
RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOU? I’m a little too obsessed with the TV show Friends.

30/11/2020

Today we introduce one of our PhD students, Marlon Hurt (), who is also working as an adjunct Instructor of Linguistics at Hofstra University (New York, USA).
WHAT'S YOUR FIELD OF RESEARCH? A kind of threatening language called a ‘pledge to harm’
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A FORENSIC LINGUIST? I was in professional theatre in New York City but had grown disillusioned with it. I was on the subway one morning on the way to a show call when I read a New Yorker article on forensic linguistics, profiling Roger Shuy in particular. It felt like the thing jumped up and bit me. I left theater for linguistics the very next year
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO JOIN THE NEW AIFL? Prof. Grant is my thesis supervisor, and that’s really all the motivation I needed :)
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK? Currently, it’s “Because Internet” by the awesome Gretchen McCulloch
RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOU? Linguistics pairs really well with music! Music and language present a lot of the same challenges. My 2nd life is as a songwriter and guitarist for Queens County Roots here in NYC ()

23/11/2020

let's start the week with our first introduction of this new round! Today we present one of our new Research Associates, dr. Annina Heini ().

WHAT'S YOUR FIELD OF RESEARCH? Police interview discourse, conversation analysis, critical discourse analysis, language & ideology.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A LINGUIST? I grew up in a multilinguistic environment and was fascinated with language from an early age. I stumbled upon FL quite accidentally and haven’t looked back since!

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO JOIN THE NEW AIFL? I followed its excellent reputation and came to what was the CFL in 2014 to do the MA FL as part of the first on-campus cohort. I’m very pleased to still be here almost six years later :)

FAVOURITE BOOK/ TV SHOW/ PODCAST? Book: The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde. Also really enjoy reading non-fiction books on criminal justice reform
TV: Fleabag all the way
Podcast: Earhustle

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOU? I’m an avid cross-stitcher. My current project is a 30,000-stitch version of Thomas Eakins’ 1875 painting ‘The Clinic of Dr. Gross’.