Language and Culture as Sources of Inequality in US Police Interrogations

Autor/in	Filipovic, Luna
Titel	Language and Culture as Sources of Inequality in US Police Interrogations
Quelle	In: Applied Linguistics, 43 (2022) 6, S.1073-1093 (21 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0142-6001
DOI	10.1093/applin/amac022
Schlagwörter	Minority Groups; Limited English Speaking; Native Speakers; Police; Interviews; Language Proficiency; English Language Learners; Cultural Differences; Communication (Thought Transfer); Failure; Translation; Crime; Spanish Speaking; Bilingualism; Questioning Techniques; Intercultural Communication; Police Community Relationship; United States + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ethnische Minderheit; Muttersprachler; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Kultureller Unterschied; Communication; thought; Kommunikation; Gedanke; Crimes; Delict; Delicts; Delikt; Bilingualismus; Befragungstechnik; Fragetechnik; Interkulturelle Kommunikation; USA
Abstract	The aim of the study was to check whether minorities such as LEP/ZEP (limited/zero English proficiency) speakers can expect the same access to justice as competent English speakers in a majority language (US English) justice system. The main hypothesis is that, due to linguistic and cultural factors, the instances of miscommunication in the interrogation of LEP/ZEP suspects and witnesses will be more numerous than in the interrogation of the majority language (English) speakers. The data consist of authentic police interrogations by US law enforcement. All instances of miscommunication were classified based on the linguistic profiles of the interrogations: monolingual English, monolingual Spanish, and bilingual Spanish/English. The analyses were both quantitative and qualitative. Miscommunication occurs more frequently if interrogations are conducted bilingually (via interpreters) and cultural differences are exploited as part of pressure to confess. The main sources of miscommunication identified are (i) the questioning method, (ii) the lack of professional interpreting, and (iii) culture-specific communication patterns. We offer concrete suggestions for ensuring equality before the law for linguistic and cultural minorities. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01