Recorded speech and written texts are increasingly presented as scientific evidence in legal cases. This is due to the fact that the accessibility and anonymity of mobile phones and the internet mean that they are often exploited for criminal acts, but at the same time they leave records which must then be analysed as forensic evidence. This has led to a rapid growth of forensic voice/text comparison as a field of forensic science. The theories and techniques, which are necessary to analyse linguistic evidence, are introduced and demonstrated, with a particular focus on voice and text as linguistic evidence, using examples taken from various languages. In this course, we overview the process of forensic voice/text comparison, including extraction of individualising information from speech/text samples; modelling of speakers/authors, experimental procedures; calculation of evidential strength and performance assessment. Students will be trained so that they can apply their acquired skills and knowledge to actual linguistic data. This course assumes the knowledge of Year 12 mathematics.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Enhance the linguistic knowledge of the target language and beyond.
- Explain the admissibility of scientific evidence.
- Understand the concept of likelihood ratio and Bayesian theorem.
- Extract individualising features from speech and text samples, and model them using appropriate statistical procedures.
- Carry out forensic voice/text comparison tests, and critically analyse the results.
Indicative Assessment
- Paper summary and critical review assignment (1000 words) (15) [LO 1,2,3]
- Take-home assignment 1 (speech) (1000 words) (20) [LO 1,3,4,5]
- Take-home assignment 2 (text) (1000 words) (20) [LO 1,3,4,5]
- Final exam (1500 words) (45) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
This course requires a total of 130 hours of work, including in class time and independent study. This course includes two lectures and one tutorial per week.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Reading materials will be provided on Wattle.
Assumed Knowledge
This course assumes the knowledge of Year 12 mathematics.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $5580 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3652 | 17 Feb 2025 | 24 Feb 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 | 23 May 2025 | In Person | View |