We engage unique combinations of: SFL, deep structuralist analysis, classical and New Critical analysis, multimodal and critical discourse analysis, computerised text analysis, AI-based analysis, and the tools of corpus linguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and pragmatics.
These we apply to:
The diagnosis of an extreme authorial stance and/or ‘extremist appraisal signature’.
Psycholinguistic criminal profiling. Here, we interrogate and explain the semantic patterns in texts and images that indicate a text type, likelihood of engagement in criminal activity, and motives for violence.
Sociolinguistic criminal profiling. Here, we interrogate patterns/formations that help identify not only authors and their violent ideology but also their sociocultural background (e.g., social group, educational level, race, and religion).
Authorship analysis. Here, we identify the likely author of a questioned text, image, or video. We do so by examining the relationship between the queried text/collateral and comparison material—e.g., by identifying textual patterns and the various structural and symbolic peculiarities of static or moving images.
Determination of meaning. For example, through the employment of the tools of corpus linguistics we can discern context specific meanings and the polarity of lexical and grammatical structures.
Analysis of disinformation tactics. Here, for example, we consider the (dis)affiliation strategies and social tagging practices used to forge social alignment with certain values.
Textual categorisation. Here, we can determine whether certain public statements and manifestos constitute hate speech, terrorist threats, or incitement to discrimination and violence.
Establishing criminal intent. By using appropriate forms of analysis, we can determine who will be doing what to whom, where, how, and why.
Establishing membership of illegal groups or the formation of undesirable affiliations. For example, by using certain tools in combination, we can determine the discursive strategies employed in calls to in-grouping, out-grouping, and illegal action.