Guiding Principles: Forensic Linguistics and Codes of Ethics in Other Fields and Professions

Abstract

This paper analyzes Codes of Ethics of other disciplines and professions with a specialfocus on forensic issues. I also analyze a variety of university outside-consultingrequirements and their implied codes of ethics. I begin with a review of codes for traditional disciplines, such as the American Psychological Association, the American Anthropological Association, and the American Historical Association. Next, I examine special forensic codes either added on to a more general code or a separate statement only devoted to forensic issues, as the forms developed by the American College of Surgeons. There are also codes for organizations that are forensic in orientation, such as the Society of Forensic Engineers and Scientists. Linguistics organizations that have attempted codes are few. I close with an assessment of which type of codes might best fit a proposal for the Linguistic Society of America to create a code.