Literal vs. hyperbole: examining speech preferences in testimonies of victims of sexual crime

ABSTRACT

Victim emotionality is one of the most influential factors in sexual crime cases. Traditionally, the study of emotionality has been limited to behaviour-descriptors such as conveying panic or appearing shaken, however, such studies must also be extended to the content of the victim’s testimony. Factors that affect emotionality within victim speech have not been sufficiently explored. Figurative language – such as metaphor, hyperbole, and simile – has been viewed historically as a tool to enhance persuasion, source credibility, and influence attitude changes within listeners. Thus, the use of figurative language may be the quickest and most effective way for victims to communicate the impact of sexual abuse. The present research focused on the intentional meta-linguistic content of victim testimony such as the use of figurative language; specifically, hyperbole. We investigated whether professionals and laypersons preferred a hyperbolic phrase, or a literal phrase in victim testimony, when asked to assume the role of the speaker, using a ‘fill-in-the-blank’ task. The results showed that professionals preferred the literal phrase, whereas laypersons preferred the hyperbolic. This would suggest that the pragmatic functions of hyperbole are different for laypersons (who could become complainants or jury members) and law enforcement; the implications of this difference are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Hyperbole
• victim language
• figurative language perception
• forensic pragmatics
• rape victim perception

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 It is essential to note here that developing irrefutable credibility through all means possible is important for the complainant precisely because ‘inadmissible’ does not necessarily translate to inconsiderable (O’Barr, 1982).

2 Male police officers chose hyperbole on 43.2% of trials (literal on 56.8%).

Female police officers chose hyperbole on 44.3% of trials (literal on 55.7%).

Non-professional males chose hyperbole on 67.5% of trials (literal on 32.5%).

Non-professional females chose hyperbole on 54.2% of trials (literal on 45.8%).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.