The force of questioning and pragmatic strategies in courtroom interrogation: A conversation analysis

This is a conversation analysis study on courtroom communication. This study aims to investigate how the forces of question (information seeking and confirmation seeking) were achieved and the pragmatic strategies, particularly repetition, and reformulation, used by the prosecutor during a cross-exa...

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Main Authors: Anisah Anisah, Diana Fauzia Sari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Syiah Kuala 2024-06-01
Series:Studies in English Language and Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/SiELE/article/view/35587
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author Anisah Anisah
Diana Fauzia Sari
author_facet Anisah Anisah
Diana Fauzia Sari
author_sort Anisah Anisah
collection DOAJ
description This is a conversation analysis study on courtroom communication. This study aims to investigate how the forces of question (information seeking and confirmation seeking) were achieved and the pragmatic strategies, particularly repetition, and reformulation, used by the prosecutor during a cross-examination of the defendant in an Indonesian murder case; a courtroom trial of a cyanide poisoning case considered weak due to a lack of sufficient evidence against the defendant. The data was obtained from the Kompas TV YouTube Channel and was transcribed using Jefferson’s (2004) technique of transcription. This study employed a descriptive qualitative method to discover the force of questions and pragmatic strategies. The data was analyzed by adapting Gibbons’ (2003) and Archer's (2005) classification of question form and question force. The results demonstrate both information-seeking and confirmation-seeking questions were used by the prosecutor. Gibbons’ (2003) repetition and reformulation strategies were used to further investigate the pragmatic strategies. The finding shows pragmatic strategies, particularly repetition, and reformulation, were also evidenced in the lines of questioning. The patterns of the findings indicate that the prosecutor attempted to portray the defendant’s unreliability and untrustworthiness in court. These findings also implicate that the existence of the strict rules of courtroom communication and power imbalance in court allows the prosecutor to influence the defendant’s response.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-956249ec83184b918dfe20cd58c32d362025-01-28T10:47:38ZengUniversitas Syiah KualaStudies in English Language and Education2355-27942461-02752024-06-011121030104510.24815/siele.v11i2.3558718311The force of questioning and pragmatic strategies in courtroom interrogation: A conversation analysisAnisah Anisah0Diana Fauzia Sari1Universitas Syiah KualaUniversitas Syiah KualaThis is a conversation analysis study on courtroom communication. This study aims to investigate how the forces of question (information seeking and confirmation seeking) were achieved and the pragmatic strategies, particularly repetition, and reformulation, used by the prosecutor during a cross-examination of the defendant in an Indonesian murder case; a courtroom trial of a cyanide poisoning case considered weak due to a lack of sufficient evidence against the defendant. The data was obtained from the Kompas TV YouTube Channel and was transcribed using Jefferson’s (2004) technique of transcription. This study employed a descriptive qualitative method to discover the force of questions and pragmatic strategies. The data was analyzed by adapting Gibbons’ (2003) and Archer's (2005) classification of question form and question force. The results demonstrate both information-seeking and confirmation-seeking questions were used by the prosecutor. Gibbons’ (2003) repetition and reformulation strategies were used to further investigate the pragmatic strategies. The finding shows pragmatic strategies, particularly repetition, and reformulation, were also evidenced in the lines of questioning. The patterns of the findings indicate that the prosecutor attempted to portray the defendant’s unreliability and untrustworthiness in court. These findings also implicate that the existence of the strict rules of courtroom communication and power imbalance in court allows the prosecutor to influence the defendant’s response.https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/SiELE/article/view/35587conversation analysiscourtroom communicationthe force of the questionpragmatic strategies
spellingShingle Anisah Anisah
Diana Fauzia Sari
The force of questioning and pragmatic strategies in courtroom interrogation: A conversation analysis
Studies in English Language and Education
conversation analysis
courtroom communication
the force of the question
pragmatic strategies
title The force of questioning and pragmatic strategies in courtroom interrogation: A conversation analysis
title_full The force of questioning and pragmatic strategies in courtroom interrogation: A conversation analysis
title_fullStr The force of questioning and pragmatic strategies in courtroom interrogation: A conversation analysis
title_full_unstemmed The force of questioning and pragmatic strategies in courtroom interrogation: A conversation analysis
title_short The force of questioning and pragmatic strategies in courtroom interrogation: A conversation analysis
title_sort force of questioning and pragmatic strategies in courtroom interrogation a conversation analysis
topic conversation analysis
courtroom communication
the force of the question
pragmatic strategies
url https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/SiELE/article/view/35587
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