Theodore Kaczynski
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Theodore Kaczynski - 1998 - US Federal Case
Linguist(s) involved
Don Foster, Vassar College USA - Instructed by the prosecution.
Jim Fitzgerald, FBI.
Robin Lakoff, University of California, Berkeley - Instructed by the defence.
Roger Shuy, Georgetown University in Washington. Wrote socio-linguistic report for FBI.
Type of analysis
Textual analysis
Summary of case
Kaczynski set off a number of bombs directed at univeristies and airlines earning the sobriquet 'The UNABOMBER'. Under threat of continued bombings Kaczynski persuaded The Washington Post (supported by The New York Times) to publish The Industrial Society and its Future. The writing in the Manifesto was recognised by Kaczynski's sister-in-law and linguistic analysis comparing known writings with the Manifesto was used to obtain a search warrant leading to the discovery of incriminating materials.
Linguistic evidence
The initial investigative analysis was carried out by Special Agent Jim Fitzgerald of the FBI this work was then re-analysed and re-presented by Professor Don Foster. Foster's book describes his role in the case and also produces a post-case linguistic re-analysis.
Robin Lakoff criticised the analysis for the defence.
Roger Shuy at the 2005 International Association of Forensic Linguists Conference held in Cardiff described how he had provided a sociolinguistic profile at the request of the FBI.
Academic references
Foster, Don. 2001. Author unknown: on the trail of anonymous. 2nd ed. London: Macmillan.
Web links
Biography of Kaczynski and history of case from wikipeadia:
The Unabomber manifesto: The Industrial Society and its Future
