APPLYING GRICE’S MAXIMS TO FIR (FIRST INFORMATION REPORT): A FORENSIC LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF MURDER CASES

Abstract

The study revolves around the forensic linguistics analysis of First Information Report (FIR) of genre: murder. The study employs Maxims theory (1975) to deeply examine murder FIR’s forensic implications through documenting the compliance or non-compliance to mainly four maxims: Maxims of Grice of Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner. These maxims further influence the intelligibility, readability, and understanding. The study captures certain areas in which legal language can pose an obstacle, public understanding. This study deploys the qualitative discourse analysis to determine linguistic decisions shaping legal perception and interpretation of the forensic language. Furthermore, the findings surround the significance of the clear, precise, and pertinent information use in enhancing legal transparency and citizen trust in the law system. This research offers practical suggestions that may be guided by the Grice framework.