Suspects’ Narrative Discourse and Identity Construction in Police Investigative Interviews

Yun YAO

Abstract


This study, using conversation analysis as the research methodology, probes into the relationship between suspects’ narrative discourse and identity construction in Chinese police investigative interviews. It is found that suspects may employ different expressions to construct various identities in the interaction. Hedging expressions in their narration depict their identity as narrators and through the use of direct speech, they could construct different identities of both themselves and other characters involved in the crime events. In the responsive turns, they adopt various language practices to normalize their illegal behaviors, attribute the blame to the victims involved in the case or mitigate the losses caused by their illegal behaviors.


Keywords


Suspects; Narrative discourse; Identity construction; Police investigative interviews

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/12827

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