THE LANGUAGE OF LIES: ANALYZING PERJURIOUS WITNESS STATEMENTS THROUGH SEARLE’S SPEECH ACT THEORY

Abstract

Perjury in courtroom settings is not merely a legal offense but also a linguistic act rooted in intention, strategy, and context. This study analyzes how witnesses construct deceptive statements through speech acts, drawing on Searle’s Speech Act Theory as an analytical framework. By examining selected courtroom transcripts from criminal trials, the research identifies how witnesses manipulate assertive, commissive, expressive, and directive speech acts to distort truth and influence judicial perception. The findings reveal that linguistic strategies such as hedging, vagueness, emotional appeals, and indirectness play a significant role in shaping deceptive discourse. The study highlights the importance of forensic linguistic analysis in legal proceedings to detect intentional falsehoods and ensure fair judicial outcomes.