Back to Search

Linguistic Disadvantage in Jury Trials: Lessons from Hong Kong and Beyond

AUTHOR Ng, Eva N. S.
PUBLISHER Edinburgh University Press (11/30/2025)
PRODUCT TYPE Hardcover (Hardcover)

Description
Eva Ng's groundbreaking work delves into post-colonial Hong Kong courtrooms, where jury service is exclusive to well-educated individuals deemed capable of understanding English proceedings. Using authentic audio recordings of two jury trials to assess jurors' comprehension, Ng highlights the challenges faced by Chinese jurors, who labour under the double disadvantage of unfamiliarity with legal discourse and insufficient proficiency in the English language used by the court. Ng's study goes beyond conventional textual analysis by examining also the impact of speakers' physical voicing on jurors' comprehension. She addresses the notion of trial by peers, issues of linguistic diversity, disadvantage and inequality in jury service participation in a wider context. Ng advocates for the use of court interpreters to improve comprehension and ensure equitable justice. Her interdisciplinary study offers valuable insights and recommendations for researchers and practitioners in linguistics, law, translation and interpreting, aiming to enhance the quality of interpretation in courtrooms and promote fairer legal outcomes.
Show More
Product Format
Product Details
ISBN-13: 9781399510691
ISBN-10: 139951069X
Binding: Hardback or Cased Book (Sewn)
Content Language: English
More Product Details
Page Count: 176
Carton Quantity: 0
Country of Origin: US
Subject Information
BISAC Categories
Language Arts & Disciplines | Translating & Interpreting
Language Arts & Disciplines | Linguistics - Sociolinguistics
Language Arts & Disciplines | Jury
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
publisher marketing
Eva Ng's groundbreaking work delves into post-colonial Hong Kong courtrooms, where jury service is exclusive to well-educated individuals deemed capable of understanding English proceedings. Using authentic audio recordings of two jury trials to assess jurors' comprehension, Ng highlights the challenges faced by Chinese jurors, who labour under the double disadvantage of unfamiliarity with legal discourse and insufficient proficiency in the English language used by the court. Ng's study goes beyond conventional textual analysis by examining also the impact of speakers' physical voicing on jurors' comprehension. She addresses the notion of trial by peers, issues of linguistic diversity, disadvantage and inequality in jury service participation in a wider context. Ng advocates for the use of court interpreters to improve comprehension and ensure equitable justice. Her interdisciplinary study offers valuable insights and recommendations for researchers and practitioners in linguistics, law, translation and interpreting, aiming to enhance the quality of interpretation in courtrooms and promote fairer legal outcomes.
Show More
List Price $120.00
Your Price  $118.80
Hardcover