We have come together to create a forum in which we can freely


  1. •discuss the current state of forensic linguistics,

  2. •encourage each other to develop and test forensic linguistic methods independent of any litigation,

  3. •encourage each other to provide, use and admit the most reliable forensic linguistic methods in both investigation and adjudication, and

  4. •disseminate validation test results as quickly as possible.


TALE has three tracks: Law Enforcement/Investigations, Researcher-Practitioner, and Legal Community.

Membership has three levels: Founding Members. Members and Fellows. Founding Members and Members may both seek promotion to become Fellows.

Founding Members have already contributed to the emergence of forensic linguistics in ways that establish the highest standards for handling linguistic evidence.

Qualifications for membership include demonstrated handling of linguistic evidence in responsible ways for the particular track to which the applicant is applying, demonstrated commitment to the goal of scientific reliability in forensic linguistics, and demonstrated leadership within the applicant's primary field. The application requires three character references and the curriculum vitae or résumé.

Qualifications for promotion to Fellow include at least one year of membership in TALE, contributions to the Telling TALE blog, other peer-reviewed academic or professional publication(s) (excluding editorials, letters to the editor, etc.), and demonstrated innovations in handling linguistic evidence through investigative techniques, development of analytical methods, validation testing, or legal strategies.

TALE is managed by an Executive Committee consisting of ILE’s Board of Directors and representatives from each track. Responsibilities of the Executive Committee include organizing and monitoring blog contributions, supporting the production of the annual review with time, writing, and literature or legal searches, organizing webinars, organizing TALE Conferences in conjunction with major conferences, reviewing membership and promotion applications and making subsequent decisions.

There are no annual dues for membership, but tax-deductible contributions to ILE help defray the cost of TALE activities, support ILE research, and provide funding for ILE Mini-Grants. Please consider ILE in your annual charitable giving.

ILE/ TALE accepts online donations through PayPal using all major credit cards as well as checks and cash sent through postal services.






If you donate through PayPal, a very small portion of your donation is used to pay for this service and you immediately receive an emailed receipt.


If you donate by check or cash through postal services, an even smaller portion (the cost of stamp and envelope) is used to pay for processing, and we send an email or paper receipt as you request.


ILE/TALE mailing address is: 


ILE/TALE

25100 Trinity Drive

Georgetown, DE 19947 USA

TALE: The Association for Linguistic Evidence

A professional organization devoted to the highest standards of linguistic evidence

TALE is an association of professionals who handle forensic linguistic evidence as law enforcement, private investigators, security consultants, data aggregators, legal assistants, attorneys, judges, law professors specializing in evidence, and researcher-practitioners. As professionals with the highest ethical standards, our members seek the most reliable methods of handling linguistic evidence in the forensic setting. We invite you to join TALE and support the development of forensic linguistics into a truly mature forensic science. Click here to download the application for Membership. The application for Promotion to Fellow will soon be available.

Law Enforcement Investigative Track

Researcher Practitioner Track

Legal Community

Track

  1. •Susan Adams, PhD, Adams and Associates, VA

  2. •Patrick Juola, PhD, Duquesne Univ., Pittsburgh, PA

  3. •Samina A. Khan, MS, University of Lahore, Pakistan

  4. •Roger Stritmatter, PhD, Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD

  1. •Sgt. Larry Barksdale, Lincoln, NE

  2. •W. Allison Blackman, Raleigh, NC

  3. •Patricia B. Mincey, Savannah, GA

  4. •Lt. Bob Carter, Silver Spring, MD (invited)

  5. •Denise Huddle, San Antonio, TX

  6. •Totti Karpela, Finland (invited)

  7. •Chuck Davis, Austin, TX (invited)

  8. •Chuck Wilson, Newark, DE (invited)

  9. •Frank Marsh, Johnstown, PA (invited)

  1. •Bruce Breon, JD PhD, Venable LLP

  2. •Susan Squires, JD (invited)

  3. •Josh W. Ard, Esq. (invited)

  4. •Helen Larsen, Esq.

Announcements

Founding Members

Language as Evidence    Corporate Information    TALE: The Association for Linguistic Evidence    Research News