Identifying the asylum speaker: reflection on the pitfalls of language analysis in the determination of national origin

Abstract

The objective of this article is to come closer to an empirically grounded perception of the functions linguistic method can serve in the Belgian asylum procedure. It investigates the extent to which linguistic expert vision can anticipate practical problems related to language and identity in the procedure. Given the enormous demand for linguistic expertise in the Belgian asylum procedure, this article will call into question the reliability of linguistic methods in determining nationality. I will do this on the basis of (a) an analysis of a translation test conducted during one of the application interviews and (b) a reconsideration of a case of linguistic identification conducted at the language analysis desk of the Belgian migration agencies. I will argue that, on the basis of the current research methods and the limited resources available, the validity of linguistic identification practices in the Belgian asylum procedure needs to be qualified.