The asylum interview. Linguistic perspectives on identity and credibility

The asylum interview is a recognized complex communicative scenario, encompassing both challenges and possibilities, with significant implications for the individual. This linguistic research highlights the often-overlooked dimensions of language and communication within the asylum process. Linguistic studies of the asylum procedure not only contribute to the advancement of linguistics but are also imperative from societal and legal standpoints.

Often, the asylum seeker is ascribed undue responsibility for the so-called asylum narrative, which serves as the foundation for subsequent asylum determination. Recognizing that the asylum interview is a communicative situation wherein meaning is jointly created, rather than being a solo endeavor, the overarching research question arises: How is identity and credibility discursively co-constructed in the asylum process?

The analysis centers on a unique and challenging-to-access dataset of asylum interviews conducted in Sweden in recent years, along with associated written texts such as the minutes.

The sabbatical study aims to conclude a multi-year research project into a comprehensive book format, and finalize and publish a subsidiary study on LGBTQI asylum interviews, where inquiries into identity and credibility questions often reach critical junctures. Two research visits are planned to enhance the project’s European and global contextualization and to foster collaborative frameworks.