LADO
Accent identification for forensic applications
It is well known that the way a person speaks holds clues as to their region of origin, and this information can be useful in many ways in various forensic contexts. Again this is an area in which it is essential to obtain advice from a properly qualified phonetician. Every day, people identify the social or regional origin of other people based on their accent - but how accurate are these identifications? When this is put to the test it is found that accuracy is lower than expected and correlates poorly with confidence. This does not mean that this type of evidence is not valid for legal purposes. It does mean that it is essential that all such evidence be carefully evaluated by suitably qualified experts.
Click here for my current article on LADO.
LADO
Language and dialect identification has become a hot topic in recent years in relation to LADO - the use of language analysis for the determination of the origin of asylum seekers. If someone seeking refugee status has no identity papers, it is sometimes possible for language analysis to offer useful evidence as to their origin. However it is essential for this evidence to be provided by a properly qualified individual.
LADO was in the news in Australia in 2003-4 when a group of Australian linguists uncovered some poor practices in use of recorded interviews to identify the origin of asylum seekers. Unfortunately these practices continue to be a serious concern internationally.
Click here for a recent interview about LADO
The following papers might give some useful background. I can also let you have a copy of a radio interview on this topic (in MP3 format) broadcast on Australia's TRIPLE-J station in 2003.
Michael Erard. 2003. Immigration by Shibboleth Legal Affairs Nov/Dec
Eades, D., Fraser, H., Siegel, J., McNamara, T. and Baker, B. 2003. 'Linguistic identification in the determination of nationality: A preliminary report.' NB this is a prepublication version of an article that appeared in Language Policy. 2.2. p.179-199.
Eades, Diana. 2005. Applied linguistics and language analysis in asylum seeker cases. Applied Linguistics 26(4): 503-526.
Following these concerns, an international group of linguists produced a set of Guidelines intended to be of use to government and legal professionals 'in deciding whether and to what degree language analysis is reliable in particular cases'.
LADO Guidelines
In 2004, an international group of linguists produced a set of Guidelines intended to be of use to government and legal professionals 'in deciding whether and to what degree language analysis is reliable in particular cases'.
Language and National Origin Group. 2004. 'Guidelines for the use of language analysis in relation to questions of national origin in refugee cases' International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law 11(2)
A useful example showing the problems targeted by the Guidelines is given in the Refugee Status Appeals Authority REFUGEE APPEAL NO. 73545/02 AT AUCKLAND 2002
A comprehensive online summary of relevant issues to do with Language analysis and national origin in refugee/asylum cases, including how the Guidelines have been used and discussed internationally is given in Linguistic Human Rights: A Sociolinguistic Introduction by Peter Patrick, University of Essex
A debate about the role of native speakers
Recently there has been a call for native speakers to be given a greater role in judging the origin of asylum seekers from recorded interviews.
- Cambier-Langeveld, T. and A. Samson (2007). "Language analysis: how to include both linguistic expertise and native competence, and why." Workshop on Language Analysis in the determination of national origin of refugees, Amsterdam, June 21.
- Cambier-Langeveld, T. 2007. 'Hot Issues in the Field of "Language Analysis"' IAFPA 16th Annual Conference Plymouth, UK
This call has been opposed by many linguists.
Eades, D. (2008). "Testing the claims of asylum seekers: the role of language analysis." Language Assessment Quarterly (special issue: 'Language Testing in the Context of Citizenship and Asylum' edited by Elana Shohamy and Tim McNamara)
I have written about the issues myself in a paper The role of native speakers in providing language analysis for the determination of the origin of asylum seekers. The abstract and other details are available under Publications.
Some links to relevant materials
Seeking Refuge: caught between bureaucracy, lawyers and public indifference? Panel 6 The importance of language, culture and gender in asylum appeals (SOAS April 2009) has several useful papers including Peter Patrick's Sociolinguistic issues in language analysis for asylum determination.
The UK Home Office’s Border Agency has a useful section which ‘provides details of the policy and guidance that our staff follow’, including a detailed paper giving guidance on the use of Language Analysis from the Swedish LADO agency Sprakab.
To find this, go to ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk, and click through Policy and Law > Guidance and Instructions > Asylum Process Guidance > Miscellaneous > Language Analysis pdf or follow this direct link.
Judgment on UK Asylum and Immigration case number [2009] UKAIT 00004
http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKIAT/2009/00004.html