This month, Writing Wrongs comes to you live as a part of the ESRC 2025 Festival of Social Science, from the West Midlands Police Museum at the Old Steelhouse Lane Lock-up.
Our hosts are joined by colleagues Dr Emily Chiang and Dr Ralph Morton to discuss the past, present, and future of forensic linguistics. This is a preview of their (along with Prof Malcolm Coulthard) forthcoming book titled Forensic Linguistics in the United Kingdom: Origins, Progress and Prospects, which will be available in 2026 from Cambridge Elements.
In the episode (about 40 minutes in) we discuss the Jenny Nicholl case and how their language differs - this is a transcription of the slide that the live audience could see:
· I am | Nicholl’s preference = im | Hodgson’s preference = i am
· I have | Nicholl’s preference = ive | Hodgson’s preference = ave
· my/myself | Nicholl’s preference = my/myself | Hodgson’s preference = me/meself
· off | Nicholl’s preference = off | Hodgson’s preference = of
· to | Nicholl’s preference = [word]2[word] | Hodgson’s preference = [word]2+space[word]
· see you | Nicholl’s preference = cu | Hodgson’s preference = cya
· phone | Nicholl’s preference = fone | Hodgson’s preference = phone
· shit | Nicholl’s preference = shit | Hodgson’s preference = shite
· am not | Nicholl’s preference = ‘m not | Hodgson’s preference = ain’t
We were also thrilled to be joined by many of our Wrong’uns (our loving nickname for our fans) for this recording session! It was so lovely to get to meet you and hear your stories. Thank you for your support!
For a list of our sources and more information about this case, please visit https://www.aston.ac.uk/writing-wrongs
Have a question for Nicci or Tim? Email us at writingwrongs@aston.ac.uk and we may answer it during an upcoming episode!
Check out the official AIFL blog for more forensic linguistic goodies here: https://medium.com/@AIFLblog
If you have been affected by any of the themes in this week’s episode, please contact one of these free sources:
https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
https://www.helpguide.org/find-help
Production Team: Angela Walker, Loretta Milan, Jordan Robertson, Neus Alberich Buera
Sound: Angela Walker
Visual design: George Grant
Additional Voices: Lesley McCarthy, Paul McCarthy, Dana Roemling, Marie Kreft, and Alexander Oldknow
With our thanks to the ESRC and the West Midlands Police Museum, Dr Zoe Adams, Dr Daniela Schneevogt, and Karolina Placzynta
Resources
Professor Tim Grant’s home page: Tim Grant - Aston Research Explorer
Dr Nicci MacLeod’s home page: Nicci MacLeod - Aston Research Explorer
Dr Emily Chiang’s home page: Emily Chiang - Aston Research Explorer
Dr Ralph Morton’s homepage: Ralph Morton - Aston Research Explorer