LINGUISTIC MARKERS OF DECEPTION IN WITNESS STATEMENTS

Abstract

This study investigates the linguistic markers that reveal deception in witness statements recorded during courtroom trials in Pakistan. Grounded in the framework of forensic linguistics and Searle’s Speech Act Theory, the research identifies lexical, syntactic, and pragmatic indicators of deceptive communication. Using qualitative content analysis, data were collected from twenty criminal cases from the Session and High Courts of Pattoki and Lahore. The findings demonstrate that deceptive witnesses often employ linguistic strategies such as hedging, vagueness, contradiction, politeness, and indirectness to obscure truth and manipulate perception. These markers function as pragmatic tools for concealing intent and maintaining credibility under legal scrutiny. The study underscores the crucial role of linguistic analysis in identifying deception and enhancing justice within courtroom contexts.