About the IAFLL
What is the IAFLL
The International Association for Forensic and legal Linguistics (IAFLL) is an organization devoted to improving the functioning of legal systems throughout the world by means of inculcating a better understanding of the interaction between language and the law.
Anyone involved in studying, researching, or working in language in a legal context or language used as evidence are invited to apply for membership of IAFLL.
Purpose & Aims
The purpose of the IAFLL is to improve the administration of the legal systems throughout the world by means of a better understanding of the interaction between language and the law. More specifically, the Association aims to promote:
- The study and analysis of the language used in the law, including the language of legal documents and texts; legal discourse; and the language used in courts, other adjudicative bodies, law-making bodies, policing, and the penal system
- Application of linguistics-based knowledge to issues and problems that may affect legal systems or be adjudicated within legal systems.
- Alleviation of language-based inequality and disadvantage in legal systems and institutions, including issues involving legal interpreting and legal translation.
- The interchange of ideas and information between the legal and linguistics communities.
- Research regarding best practices and professional ethical standards in expert testimony on linguistics-based issues and in other forms of presentation of linguistics evidence and knowledge in legal systems and to legal institutions.
- Promotion of better public understanding of the interaction between language and the law.
- Promotion of practices and policies designed to make legal practices and institutions more accurate, fair, and equitable, serving the public interests.
Further Aims
Furthering the interests of linguists engaged in research on the development and practice of forensic linguistics;
Disseminating knowledge about language analysis and its forensic applications among relevant professionals around the world;
Promoting a Code of Practice addressing such matters as giving testimony in court and writing official reports;
Collecting and making available computer corpora of matters of value to forensic researchers, such as confessions, suicide notes, and police interrogations.
Join a community interested in all aspects
of the investigation of language and the law.
18th Biennial Conference of IAFLL – save the date
18th Biennial Conference of IAFLL - save the date Dear IAFLL Members Dear Friends, I am delighted to formally announce that the 18th Biennial Conference of the International Association for Forensic and Legal Linguistics (IAFLL 2027) will be held in Porto, Portugal,...
6th European Conference of IAFLL – Second Call for Papers
Dear all, The second call for papers for the 6th European conference of the International Association for Forensic and Legal Linguistics (IAFLL) is now open. Full details can be found on the conference website here: https://iafll2026.sciencesconf.org/?lang=en ...
6th European Conference of IAFLL – First Call for Papers
Dear all, The first call for papers for the 6th European conference of the International Association for Forensic and Legal Linguistics (IAFLL) is now open. Full details can be found on the conference website here: https://iafll2026.sciencesconf.org/?lang=en The call...
6th European Conference of IAFLL – save the date
6th European Conference of IAFLL - save the date Dear all, We are excited to announce the 6th European Conference of the International Association for Forensic and Legal Linguistics, which will be held between Monday 22 - Thursday 25 June 2026 at the University of...
17th Biennial Conference of IAFLL – final programme
17th Biennial Conference of IAFLL - Final programme Dear all, Please click here to download the final programme of the IAFLL 2025 conference. We look forward to welcoming you to South Africa. Kind regards, Zakeera Docrat (Co-chairperson: on behalf of the LOC) LOC...
17th Biennial Conference of IAFLL – Draft programme
17th Biennial Conference of IAFLL - Draft programme Dear all, Please click here to download the first draft of the IAFLL 2025 conference programme. Please remember to register for the conference before the registration deadline on Sunday 25 May 2025. Please email...
Registration extension – 17th Biennial Conference of IAFLL
17th Biennial Conference of IAFLL - Registration extension until 25th May On behalf of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 17th Biennial Conference of the International Association for Forensic and Legal Linguistics (IAFLL) we hereby inform you that the...
IAFLL Executive Committee nominations
The IAFLL has received the following nominations for the Executive Committee elections. Voting will open on Tuesday 3rd June 2025 and will close on Monday 9th June 2025. Only IAFLL members can vote. All members will receive email communications before and when the...
17th Biennial Conference of IAFLL – Official Press release and conference video
17th Biennial Conference of IAFLL - Official Press release and conference video We invite you to watch the official conference video: https://youtu.be/euhJXPJpG2g Registration is open until 5 May 2025: https://form.jotform.com/243401202279548 The...
IAFLL Executive Committee – nominations
The IAFLL is seeking nominations from people who wish to serve on the new Executive Committee, which takes office on 1 August 2025, and runs for a term of two years. The IAFLL Executive Committee consists of nine members: five officers (President, Vice President,...