MWA Florida Chapter

DATE: September 15, 2018 Florida Chapter, Mystery Writers of America Luncheon Meeting

GUEST SPEAKER: Harriet Ottenheimer

PROGRAM: Forensic Linguistics: Language as Evidence

Program: The Unabomber case. Kurt Kobain’s suicide note. Russian cyber crimes. The Exxon Mobil disaster. Police interrogations. Plagiarism disputes. Forensic linguistics has played an important role in resolving these situations and more. A relatively new discipline, forensic linguistics has become an essential part of modern crime investigations. Forensic linguists analyze language evidence to assist law enforcement to solve crimes. In this talk, linguistic anthropologist Harriet Ottenheimer will discuss this new field. The presentation will be interactive, with real examples to analyze. 

Speaker: Harriet Ottenheimer writes on language and culture for encyclopedias, magazines, and academic journals. Her analysis of the language of African scam letters is well-known in the cyber security community. She has also analyzed linguistic evidence for the U.S. Government. Her best-selling book, The Anthropology of Language, is now in its fourth edition. Her publications include a bilingual dictionary, a CD of African music, a documentary film, and a blues singer’s autobiography. Harriet earned her BA in literature from Bennington College and her Ph.D. in anthropology from Tulane University. She taught anthropology and ethnic studies at Kansas State University and on a Fulbright appointment to Charles University (in Prague). She is a past president of the Central States Anthropological Society and of the National Association for Ethnic Studies. Now “emerita” Harriet writes mystery novels featuring an amateur sleuth who analyzes language evidence to assist law enforcement to solve crimes.

DATE:  SATURDAY, September 15, 2018

TIME: 11:30: Mingling; 12:00: Lunch; 12:30: Business Meeting; 1:00: Presentation

PLACE: Embassy Suites by Hilton Boca Raton, 661 NW 53rd Street, Boca Raton, Florida, 33487; Get Directions Here

COST:  $25 for MWA members; $30 for non-members. Prepayment by September 12, is strongly urged.

RESERVATIONS/PREPAYMENT:   To reserve and pay online: go to website link www.mwaflorida.org and click on the “Monthly Meeting” tab under “Events”. Once you reach the page, click on the “Register for Monthly Meeting Here” link. Scroll down to the “Sign up for Luncheon Meeting” box and fill in your information, then click the “Pay Now” button and follow the instructions.

IMPORTANT - if you sign up for a meeting via PayPal in error, do NOT dispute the charge with PayPal. Instead, please contact our Treasurer via email ASAP at harriet@ottenheimer.com and she will refund your payment less PayPal's transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30. If you do dispute the charge, be aware that you will be liable for any penalties back-charged to the FMWA Chapter by PayPal (minimum $20.00 per disputed transaction). Thanks for your cooperation!

To reserve and pay via mail: 

Step 1–Email harriet@ottenheimer.com with the subject line “FMWA Meeting” to reserve a spot.  In the body of the email, please include your name, the name of any guest you have invited, your email address, and telephone number. 

Step 2– Write your check or money order payable to “Mystery Writers of America/Florida Chapter.” 

Step 3-Mail your payment to FMWA Treasurer, 2301 S. Ocean Dr. #2005, Hollywood, FL 33019

Please make your online reservation by September 12,  or mail your check at least 3 days prior to that date so that you will be included on the reservation list, and we can provide the hotel with an accurate headcount! Walk-ins are accommodated only it space allows. Next Meeting Date: Saturday October 20, 2018.