Philips looks at the languages of judges in the courtroom to show that, while judges see themselves as impartial agents of the constitutional right to due process, there is actually much diversity in the way that judges interract with defendants due to their interpretations of the law, their attitudes toward courtroom control, and their own political-ideological stances regarding due process. She uses courtroom transcripts, interviews, and the written law itself to show how ideological diversity is organized in legal discourse.
Reviews
A masterful achievement.... This will quickly become a major text in the literatures both on ideology in discourse and on legal discourse. * Deborah Tannen, Georgetown University *
The book gives evidence that people do not compartmentalize their beliefs, however much they may wish to or believe that they are capable of it....it is refreshing...to see anthropological and linguistic studies taken to the city. * Notes on Linguistics *
Conclusions are firmly embedded in rigorous observation and data analysis by Philips and represent an important contribution to studies of legal discourse. * Word *
The author uses fine-grained analysis of courtroom language to reveal the pervasive influence of ideology on trial court judges' practices. Followers of Philips's pioneering work on legal language will not be disappointed; the volume lives up to the exacting standard she set for the field in her early articles on courtroom (and classroom) discourse. * Language in Society *



Book Information
ISBN 9780195113419
Author Susan U. Philips
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 346g
Dimensions(mm) 155mm * 229mm * 15mm