The first study to provide an analysis of multimodal communication in courts of law. It will interest language and law scholars, and researchers in the fields of gesture studies and social interaction in institutional contexts. It will also appeal to those interested in the adjudication of sexual assault.
Multimodal Oratory in Legal Performance
This book analyzes the complex interplay between gesture, speech and other modal resources (e. g., gaze, facial expression, motion) during the presentation of evidence and interpretation of testimony in court. By analyzing recordings of a well-known rape trial, the authors reveal how multimodal oratory contributes to forensic linguistics and gesture studies, and how it helps understand recent policy recommendations for reforming the rape trial.