37.3146, Books: Courtroom Discourse in China and the USA: Liao (2026)

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-37-3146. Thu Oct 01 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.3146, Books: Courtroom Discourse in China and the USA: Liao (2026)

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Date: 01-Oct-2026
From: Arianne Hill [Arianne.Hill at bloomsbury.com]
Subject: Courtroom Discourse in China and the USA: Liao (2026)


Title: Courtroom Discourse in China and the USA
Series Title: Bloomsbury Advances in Forensic and Legal Linguistics
Publication Year: 2026

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
           http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/
Book URL:
https://www.bloomsbury.com/courtroom-discourse-in-china-and-the-usa-9781350204799/

Author(s): Meizhen Liao

Hardback.
9781350204799.
£95.00.

Abstract:

Offering the first comparative study of criminal courtroom discourse
in China and the USA, this book explores the interactions that take
place within two very different legal systems and cultures.
Focusing on direct and cross examinations, Meizhen Liao analyzes
discourse strategies and language patterns at both the micro and macro
levels in intrapersonal and interpersonal interactions.
Highlighting the similarities and differences in courtroom discourses
between two distinct legal traditions, the author questions and
explains the reasons behind them and examines the implications for
legal practice and forensic linguistics. Based on accurate and
authentic courtroom trial transcripts of representative and important
criminal cases, the data is analyzed using an integrated methodology
model, the Goal-driven Principle, drawing together insights from
speech act theory, discourse analysis, conversation analysis and
Complex Adaptive System theory. Through promoting comparative and
contrastive approaches across languages and legal systems, this book
opens up a new area in the study of forensic linguistics.

Linguistic Field(s): Discourse Analysis
                     Forensic Linguistics
                     Pragmatics
                     Semantics




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