On Courtroom Interaction Concerning The Accused: From The Perspective Of Discourse Information Processing

This thesis studies courtroom interaction concerning the accused from the perspective of discourse information processing,in order to reveal how the parties process discourse information to conduct courtroom interaction.The theoretical framework of the present study is based on the interactive orientations of the model of discourse information processing and the model of tree information structure of legal discourse.According to the model of discourse information processing,the three groups of interactive orientations in court trials are: uni-pursuance & co-pursuance;uni-evasion & co-evasion;uni-abandonment & co-abandonment.This thesis studies the three groups of interactive orientations from the following aspects of discourse information:information unit,information knot, information structure,attitude type and knowledge type.Meanwhile,this study also probes into the language strategies and linguistic devices for the purposes of the interactive orientations,since participants adopt different orientations,language strategies and linguistic devices to engage in discourse information processing according to their respective need.Finally,this study analyzes the impact of the three groups of interactive orientations on the three principles of criminal trials.By analyzing courtroom interaction concerning the accused from the perspective of discourse information processing,this thesis will hopefully shed some light on the realization of judicial justice through the efforts of the prosecutor,the judge,the accused as well as the lawyer.