Pragmatic aspects of personal pronouns in courtroom discourse

Abstract

Aiming to shed light on the under-studied monologic genre of the opening statement, this research explicates how lawyers position themselves in relation to the (overhearing) jurors in the courtroom. Drawing upon the prosecution’s and defense’s opening statements of three high-profile American trials, the study analyzes the use of first- and second-person pronouns. The findings suggest that these pronouns are an integral part of this genre, thereby contributing to making the genre dialogic and interactive. These pronominal devices serve several pragmatic functions, including displaying speaker stance and establishing engagement. As a result, the opening statement becomes argumentative, which stands in stark contrast to the legal requirement of this genre.