The Routledge Handbook of Forensic Linguistics
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Abstract
is a substantial contribution to our field, both in scope and significance and will likely prompt many readers to reflect upon the history of forensic linguistics and the place of this edition in that history.Readers will likely recall the popularity of the first edition in 2010, which provided broad coverage of the field with plentiful reference to general scholarship in linguistics, applied linguistics and the legal processes giving it a wide appeal.However, no sooner do we start to consider the history or development of this field than we run into a range of definitional problems: what exactly do we mean by 'forensic linguistics'?What is the distinction between forensic linguistics and language and the law?These questions have been addressed implicitly in the Handbook through its structure and scope; however, the contents of the Handbook also makes it clear that such vagueness has been an asset to our community because it has allowed us to define ourselves dynamically, adjusting the boundaries of what is considered 'language and the law' or 'forensic linguistics' when emerging technologies or a changing legal landscape introduce new possibilities for linguistic analysis.As a second edition, with 10 years since the first edition, we can expect a publication such as this to provide insights into the changes that have occurred in the field over that time.New readers might be less concerned about such evolutions, and for them, the contents will be of intrinsic value regardless of how they compare to the earlier edition.But for fans of the original Handbook who are seeking out this second edition, it is pertinent to ask: what is new here?Have the changes in the field, indicated by papers presented at conferences and colloquia for instance, been captured by the second edition?