Forensic Linguistics. Prison Slang, Miranda Rights, and Online-Trolling

Document from the year 2021 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,3, Dresden Technical University (Institute of English and American Studies), course: Forensic Linguistics, language: English, abstract: This paper raises and discusses three selected questions on topics of forensics linguistics, i.e., prison slang, Miranda Rights, and the act of trolling online. Its idea, structure, and purpose are equal to term papers but in a very shortened and rudimentary yet discursive and critical way. Therefore, a variety of secondary sources and perspectives are taken into account. Furthermore, cultural and judicial aspects enhance the linguistic-based discussions and, therefore, reveal supplementary controversial issues. Language fulfills different social functions and is of high relevance for everyday life in prison. Which (linguistic) features are characteristic for prison slang and which (social) functions do they fulfill? Although the 'Miranda Rights' were created to extend suspects' protection, many problems may arise when looking at certain groups who are not fully capable of understanding the details and extent of the 'Miranda Rights' The act of trolling has become visible on presumably all SMPs and, beyond that, other platforms, such as Wikipedia, and is not always handled as a trivial offense. What is a troll (or trolling), what are his/her motivations, and why and how can trolling lead to legal repercussions?