What needs to be clarified
The task is to examine the linguistic grounds for relating the statement to a particular person or organisation within the whole text.
Materials to prepare
- The complete publication with its headline, illustrations and captions.
- The original order of paragraphs, replies and relevant comments.
- The exact disputed wording and questions for examination.
What to compare
- Trace names of participants and pronoun links throughout the text.
- Separate explicit naming, contextual reference and readers’ assumptions.
- Assess whether several readings have support in the wording.
Possible outcome of the analysis
A possible result explains the statement’s reference, the reasoning supporting it and the limits of certainty.
Limits of the conclusions
A linguistic opinion establishes neither the truth of the reported event nor legal responsibility.