RT Journal Article
SR Electronic(1)
A1 Ho, Yufang
A1 Lugea, Jane
A1 McIntyre, Dan
A1 Wang, Jing
A1 Xu, Zhijie
YR 2018
T1 Projecting (un)certainty: A text-world analysis of three statements from the Meredith Kercher murder case
JF English Text Construction
VO 11
IS 2
SP 286
OP 317
DO https://doi.org/10.1075/etc.00012.ho
PB John Benjamins
SN 1874-8767,
AB Abstract
This article uses Text World Theory (Werth 1999; Gavins 2007) in conjunction with VUE (Visual Understanding Environment) concept mapping software to analyze three
statements from the trial of Amanda Knox, who was charged (along with her boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito) with the murder of
Meredith Kercher in 2007. We compare the cognitive patterns (i.e. text-worlds) as reflected in Knox’s statements and use the
insights gained to guide an examination of their individual linguistic features and associated potential legal implications. In
the first two dictated statements, Knox is projected as an actor responsible for the reported actions/events that
implicate her in the crime, whereas in the third statement (handwritten in English), she is projected as a
senser, presenting more prominent epistemic uncertainty and indicating bewilderment. Further micro-level
linguistic comparison indicates signs of textual alteration in the first two statements, i.e. crucial text was altered and thus
resulted in a change of meaning and legal significance.,
UL https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/etc.00012.ho