A look at WH-questions in direct and cross-examinations: Authentic vs. TV courtroom language

Meishan Chen; Randi Reppen

doi:10.1590/1678-460X2020360310

A look at WH-questions in direct and cross-examinations: Authentic vs. TV courtroom language

Meishan Chen, Randi Reppen

English

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Using a corpus-based register approach, this study explores language use of authentic and TV courtroom discourse through the lens of WH-questions, with a focus on direct and cross-examinations. Results show that in addition to differences as a result of these two discourse settings (i.e., authentic and TV courtroom), WH-questions accomplish different goals across the registers of direct and cross-examinations. For example, WH-questions are avoided in authentic cross-examinations, while in TV courtroom discourse WH-questions are used to engage viewers. Results explore how the different communicative purposes of authentic and TV courtroom settings impact the use of WH-questions in direct and cross-examinations.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1-20
Number of pages	20
Journal	DELTA Documentacao de Estudos em Linguistica Teorica e Aplicada
Volume	36
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-460X2020360310
State	Published - 2020

Keywords

communicative purpose
corpus based register approach
courtroom discourse
discursos de tribunais
Palavras-chave:abordagem de registros baseada em corpus
propósitos comunicativos
use of WH-questions
uso das wh-questions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Linguistics and Language

Access to Document

10.1590/1678-460X2020360310

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'A look at WH-questions in direct and cross-examinations: Authentic vs. TV courtroom language'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

@article{61286e734211407e965eb14e8da6b152,

title = "A look at WH-questions in direct and cross-examinations: Authentic vs. TV courtroom language",

abstract = "Using a corpus-based register approach, this study explores language use of authentic and TV courtroom discourse through the lens of WH-questions, with a focus on direct and cross-examinations. Results show that in addition to differences as a result of these two discourse settings (i.e., authentic and TV courtroom), WH-questions accomplish different goals across the registers of direct and cross-examinations. For example, WH-questions are avoided in authentic cross-examinations, while in TV courtroom discourse WH-questions are used to engage viewers. Results explore how the different communicative purposes of authentic and TV courtroom settings impact the use of WH-questions in direct and cross-examinations.",

keywords = "communicative purpose, corpus based register approach, courtroom discourse, discursos de tribunais, Palavras-chave:abordagem de registros baseada em corpus, prop{\'o}sitos comunicativos, use of WH-questions, uso das wh-questions",

author = "Meishan Chen and Randi Reppen",

year = "2020",

doi = "10.1590/1678-460X2020360310",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "36",

pages = "1--20",

journal = "DELTA Documentacao de Estudos em Linguistica Teorica e Aplicada",

issn = "0102-4450",

publisher = "Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A look at WH-questions in direct and cross-examinations

T2 - Authentic vs. TV courtroom language

AU - Chen, Meishan

AU - Reppen, Randi

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Using a corpus-based register approach, this study explores language use of authentic and TV courtroom discourse through the lens of WH-questions, with a focus on direct and cross-examinations. Results show that in addition to differences as a result of these two discourse settings (i.e., authentic and TV courtroom), WH-questions accomplish different goals across the registers of direct and cross-examinations. For example, WH-questions are avoided in authentic cross-examinations, while in TV courtroom discourse WH-questions are used to engage viewers. Results explore how the different communicative purposes of authentic and TV courtroom settings impact the use of WH-questions in direct and cross-examinations.

AB - Using a corpus-based register approach, this study explores language use of authentic and TV courtroom discourse through the lens of WH-questions, with a focus on direct and cross-examinations. Results show that in addition to differences as a result of these two discourse settings (i.e., authentic and TV courtroom), WH-questions accomplish different goals across the registers of direct and cross-examinations. For example, WH-questions are avoided in authentic cross-examinations, while in TV courtroom discourse WH-questions are used to engage viewers. Results explore how the different communicative purposes of authentic and TV courtroom settings impact the use of WH-questions in direct and cross-examinations.

KW - communicative purpose

KW - corpus based register approach

KW - courtroom discourse

KW - discursos de tribunais

KW - Palavras-chave:abordagem de registros baseada em corpus

KW - propósitos comunicativos

KW - use of WH-questions

KW - uso das wh-questions

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099144222&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85099144222&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1590/1678-460X2020360310

DO - 10.1590/1678-460X2020360310

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85099144222

VL - 36

SP - 1

EP - 20

JO - DELTA Documentacao de Estudos em Linguistica Teorica e Aplicada

JF - DELTA Documentacao de Estudos em Linguistica Teorica e Aplicada

SN - 0102-4450

IS - 3

ER -

A look at WH-questions in direct and cross-examinations: Authentic vs. TV courtroom language

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this