Ateneo De Manila University

Language in the Legal Domain in the Philippines

The presentations in this panel are concerned with forensic linguistics, or the systematic study of language use in the legal domain. Drawing from linguistic theories, methodologies, and insights, the presentations tackle the topics where language and law interface. These topics include gender representations in Philippine courtroom discourse, linguistic manifestations of the ideological stance of RTC judges, and the construction of identities and ideologies of national election candidates. Through an analysis of written and/or oral texts in the legal domain, as well as a critical understanding of the contexts of use, the presentations engage with legal issues from the perspective of language studies. 

Convenor

Isabel Pefianco Martin is Professor at the Department of English, School of  Humanities, and the Department of Education, School of  Social Sciences, of the Ateneo de Manila University. She is also Coordinator for Research and Textbook Development at the Ateneo SALT Institute. Prof. Martin is a leading figure in English language studies in the country, having published in various internationally recognized publications. Prof. Martin has served and continues to serve in private and government institutions that are concerned with upgrading the state of English language education in the Philippines. (mmartin@ateneo.edu)

Panelists

Gender Representations in Philippine Courtroom Discourse

Keische Mae DC. Enciso is a full-time PhD in English Language and Literature student at the Ateneo de Manila University. Her research interests incorporate postcolonial fields that aim for justice and empowerment such as language and law, language teaching in the Philippines, ecocriticism, feminist, subaltern, and cultural studies. (keische.enciso@obf.ateneo.edu)

Linguistic Manifestations of the Ideological Stance of RTC Judges in the Philippines

Jufran C. Agustin is an instructor of the Languages and Literature Unit, Leyte Normal University. He is currently taking PhD in English Language and Literature at the Ateneo de Manila University. His research interests include English language education, language and law studies, diaspora and mobility studies, and sociolinguistics. (jufran.agustin@obf.ateneo.edu)

The Language in Politics: Constructing Identities and Ideologies through the Senatorial Candidates’ Stance on Issues of the Law

Jill M. Sacopon is a public school teacher in the Philippines and was once an operations manager in a call center. A PhD student of the Ateneo de Manila University, he teaches Personal Development and Research in Concepcion Integrated School Senior High School. (jill.sacopon@obf.ateneo.edu)