Mapping the Development of Forensic Linguistics in the Philippines: A Scoping Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67903/ijroms0469Keywords:
Court Interpretation, Courtroom Discourse, Forensic Linguistics, Investigative Linguistics, Legal LanguageAbstract
The field of forensic linguistics has become progressively relevant, especially in multilingual societies like in the Philippines. However, the literature remains insufficient and disintegrated. There is a need for a systematic synthesis of these existing studies in the Philippines and see what the current landscape of research looks like for future opportunities and directions. This scoping review intends to map the available literature on forensic linguistics in the Philippines and assess whether the existing literature and studies can suffice the identification of gaps for the proposed study on local courtroom discourse. This review adheres to Arksey & O’Malley’s (2005) framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). It reveals that forensic linguistics in the Philippines is a growing yet still underexplored field, with a significant surge in research occurring only within the last decade. The findings also emphasize that the current English-centric judicial system creates a formidable barrier to justice for the country's multilingual population, often leading to structural inequalities and a lack of legal internalization among ordinary citizens. These implications are significant insights for future directions of language planning and management in the country. More studies are needed in forwarding the advocacy for a more inclusive judicial system, one that does not put people at a disadvantage only because they cannot speak English. This scoping review calls for inclusive legal reforms and more situated research to ensure that the Philippine justice system becomes accessible and equitable for all, regardless of their linguistic background.
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