A Study Of Courtroom Questioning Strategies In Criminal Trial: Perspective From The Principle Of The Objective

Based on the Principle of the Objective,this study investigated the questioning strategies used in courtroom by lawyers,prosecutors and judges respectively,and aimed to make an analysis of the relationships between participants' objectives and strategies.The Principle of the Objective can be retrospect to the Spring and Autumn period.This theory has been applied in many areas.However,it is hardly used to investigate the objectives of participants thoroughly.So,within a theoretical and methodological framework,this study selected criminal trials shown on public television or network in China and data cited in other books,followed by data-based analysis,in an attempt to examine the interactive relationship between questioning strategies and objectives during courtroom trials.It turned out that questioning strategies of different participants(lawyers,prosecutors and judges)were determined by their different objectives.Lawyers employed repetition,interruption and various question types to meet the interests of their clients.Prosecutors mostly adopted the same strategies as lawyers did to investigate the case find out the truth,to supervise trial process,and to pursue fairness for national interests;whereas,questioning strategies most frequently used by judges included,but not limited to,interruption,repetition and reformulation,so as to control the process of trials,to promote the judicial efficiency,and to investigate the case and find out the truth.The reason why same strategies were employed by different participants,or certain strategies were not exclusive to particular participants,was due to their different objectives.The fact that different strategies were employed by different participants also reveals the hierarchy of powers in courtroom.We found that judges assumed the supreme power in the whole courtroom activities.Those findings may facilitate better understanding of different participants' objectives and how they influence strategies employed in courtroom.In contrast to previous studies of courtroom discourse,this study gives a thorough research addressing questioning strategies of participants in courtroom trials from theperspectives of the Principle of the Objective.Though this study specifically analyzes the relationship between objectives and strategies of different participants in criminal trial,it may hopefully shed some light on similar studies in other courtroom discourse,e.g.discourse in civil trials.