Current methods in forensic speaker identification: Results of a collaborative exercise

Authors

  • Tina Cambier-Langeveld Ministry of Justice, The Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.v14i2.223

Keywords:

speaker identification, methodology, collaborative exercise, proficiency test, scale of conclusions, acoustic measurements

Abstract

The field of forensic speaker identification is complicated by the use of a wide array of methods that are employed and it suffers from a lack of evaluation and validation of these different methods. This paper reports on the first internationally oriented collaborative exercise in this field. The main goal of this project was to document the different methods, analyses and reporting strategies that are currently being employed, and to have as many experts as possible participate (representative of the field). Speech material was especially recorded for this purpose and a fake case was constructed. Results from twelve reports are presented anonymously. Furthermore, a detailed account of the most frequently encountered acoustic measurements is given, and a summary of the type and scale of conclusions is provided. These summaries exemplify the huge diversity that seems to govern the field of forensic speaker identification, not only in a global sense but also when reports are viewed in detail.

Author Biography

  • Tina Cambier-Langeveld, Ministry of Justice, The Netherlands
    TINA CAMBIER-LANGEVELD obtained a degree in Linguistics and Phonetics at Leiden University (the Netherlands) in 1995. She then wrote a PhD thesis on durational lengthening effects in Dutch and English at the University of Amsterdam. In 1999 she entered the field of forensic phonetics when she joined the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), where she worked as an expert dealing primarily with speaker identification using auditory-acoustic analysis. Since 2005 she is employed by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service, where she is involved with language analysis as a means to check the claims of asylum seekers on their (national and ethnic) origin and language background. She holds the position of senior linguist since 2007.

Published

2008-03-05

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Cambier-Langeveld, T. (2008). Current methods in forensic speaker identification: Results of a collaborative exercise. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law, 14(2), 223-243. https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.v14i2.223