The study explores dialogical framing as a story-telling device in two genres that stand on the margins of proceedings at the International Criminal Court: opening and closing statements. As these two genres are still relatively under-researched in linguistic literature, the study contributes to research in this area by outlining their generic features. By using Corpus-Assisted (Critical) Discourse Analysis, the study provides both qualitative and quantitative overview of the most prominent frames and interpretation suggestions across the two genres and across the main participants involved: the Prosecution, the Defence and the Legal Representatives of Victims. The findings identify a paradoxical combination of humanising and dehumanising (stereotypical) frames by the parties when depicting the Defendants or rebutting each other’s story. The opening statements are characterised predominantly by event- and character-building frames, whereas the closing statements shift attention to the trial, dialogically delegitimising the opponents. The evidence suggests that instead of a tripartite model, the framing choices are indicative of an oppositional model: Defence vs. Prosecution and Victims’ Representatives.

Discursive duelling in international criminal justice: dialogical framing in opening and closing statements at the International Criminal Court / J. Nikitina. - In: TEXTUS. - ISSN 1824-3967. - 36:1(2023), pp. 113-134.

Discursive duelling in international criminal justice: dialogical framing in opening and closing statements at the International Criminal Court

J. Nikitina
2023

Abstract

The study explores dialogical framing as a story-telling device in two genres that stand on the margins of proceedings at the International Criminal Court: opening and closing statements. As these two genres are still relatively under-researched in linguistic literature, the study contributes to research in this area by outlining their generic features. By using Corpus-Assisted (Critical) Discourse Analysis, the study provides both qualitative and quantitative overview of the most prominent frames and interpretation suggestions across the two genres and across the main participants involved: the Prosecution, the Defence and the Legal Representatives of Victims. The findings identify a paradoxical combination of humanising and dehumanising (stereotypical) frames by the parties when depicting the Defendants or rebutting each other’s story. The opening statements are characterised predominantly by event- and character-building frames, whereas the closing statements shift attention to the trial, dialogically delegitimising the opponents. The evidence suggests that instead of a tripartite model, the framing choices are indicative of an oppositional model: Defence vs. Prosecution and Victims’ Representatives.
dialogical framing; International Criminal Court; opening statements; closing statements; corpus-assisted discourse analysis
Settore L-LIN/12 - Lingua e Traduzione - Lingua Inglese
2023
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Nikitina_2023_discursive duelling ICC_FINAL.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 166.47 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
166.47 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/1025794
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact