Language Analysis Services

Language analysis plays a critical role in immigration and security decision-making. SILA Linguists’ experts conduct thorough Language Analysis for the Determination of Origin (LADO) to support complex cases in asylum, immigration and security contexts. LADO is an established forensic linguistic process, used globally by governments and tribunals, that evaluates an individual’s speech to infer their likely geographic and ethnic origin. SILA Linguists is a leading provider of language analysis services for the determination of origin (LADO) across the UK and wider Europe. Our native-speaker forensic linguists deliver rigorous, culturally informed assessments to support legal and governmental needs.

Language Analysis for the Determination of Origin (LADO)

Language Analysis for the Determination of Origin (LADO) is a specialised forensic approach in which recorded speech from an asylum seeker (or any speaker) is analysed for dialectal and phonetic cues. The analyst examines dialectologically relevant features such as accent, pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and local expressions. These speech features are compared against known language varieties or dialects to assess how closely the speaker’s profile matches particular regions or countries of origin. In practice, this might involve distinguishing regional variants (for example, Moroccan vs Algerian Arabic, or Eastern vs Western Somali dialects) through subtle differences in pronunciation and word choice.

The LADO process typically involves reviewing audio recordings (such as asylum interviews or intercepted calls) and transcribing the speech with attention to fine-grained dialect features. Our linguists use methodologies drawn from forensic phonetics, dialectology and sociolinguistics. They listen for phonetic nuances (such as vowel quality, consonant articulation or intonation patterns), stress patterns, and distinctive sounds that vary by region. They also analyse word choice, idioms and grammatical constructions, and consult authoritative dialect atlases or corpora. Where relevant, they consider code-switching or bilingual influences. By combining acoustic analysis (even using software tools to measure formants or pitch) with expert listening, our analysts build a detailed linguistic profile of the speaker.

Governments and immigration authorities frequently commission LADO reports to verify or challenge asylum claims. LADO analyses are typically requested by immigration or asylum bureaux when there is doubt about a claimant’s stated origin. They may also be used during appeals if an initial claim was denied. Language analysis has been adopted by a growing number of countries worldwide – including the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and others – to help determine an asylum seeker’s country or region of origin. When documentation is missing, fraudulent or unclear, LADO can provide independent evidence by linking speech patterns to geographic areas.

SILA Linguists applies a rigorous, evidence-based process. Our analysts are forensic professionals who consider multiple hypotheses. They assess how likely the observed speech patterns are under the claimant’s asserted origin compared with other plausible alternatives. This balanced approach, aligned with forensic best practice, helps avoid confirmation bias or speculative conclusions. Analysts also take into account sociocultural context – for example, whether the speaker has had contact with other language communities or lived in multiple countries, which might influence their accent or vocabulary. We document the reasoning at each step, so that conclusions are transparent and reproducible.

Practical Impact of LADO

In practice, LADO can make a significant difference when documentary evidence is missing or disputed. For example, if an asylum seeker lacks valid identity papers, a LADO report may corroborate or cast doubt on their claimed nationality or ethnic background. It has been used to distinguish between closely related dialects (such as different Arabic or Somali variants) which may not be obvious from accent alone. Similarly, LADO can help identify whether a speaker heard in a security recording is likely from a particular region or country. Because language often carries cultural and regional markers, a well‐supported linguistic analysis can influence decisions on asylum eligibility, inform intelligence investigations, or aid visa and border enforcement.

Professional standards for LADO have evolved over recent years. In the UK, a 2010 tribunal ruling emphasised that reports by native-speaker analysts with expert supervision should be given significant weight. By contrast, earlier methods that relied on untrained listeners or incomplete transcripts were found unreliable. SILA Linguists adheres to the highest forensic standards (for example, following codes of practice set by bodies like the International Association for Forensic Phonetics & Acoustics), ensuring all analysts are qualified, experienced and impartial. Every analyst must act with integrity and maintain up-to-date regional knowledge, so that our reports are valid and defensible.

Language Analysis for Age Assessment (LADA)

Determining an individual’s age through language (LADA) is a related forensic service. We analyse a person’s speech (or written language) to estimate their age range. This involves first classifying the speaker into a broad age group (e.g. child, teenager, young adult, middle-aged, senior) and then refining the estimate using specific linguistic cues. Certain features of speech tend to change with age: for example, older speakers often have slower speech rate, a different pitch, and different vocabulary or slang. Studies have shown that listeners can be surprisingly accurate at estimating age: one classic study found a correlation of about 0.9 between perceived age and real age for fluent speech samples, indicating that speech carries reliable age markers.

LADA reports are increasingly important in legal and immigration cases. A common scenario is determining whether an asylum seeker claiming to be a minor is indeed under 18. Courts and child-protection authorities may request linguistic age analysis when documentary evidence is lacking. Age assessments can also be relevant in elder fraud investigations, age-dispute trials, or missing-persons enquiries. For example, if a teenage asylum applicant is suspected of being older than claimed, a language-based evaluation provides supplementary evidence to support or challenge the initial claim. While no method can pinpoint age to the exact year by language alone, a qualified age assessment adds an evidence-based perspective to the adjudication of age-related claims.

Our Age Assessment service is informed by research and careful methodology. We compare the speaker’s language use and voice characteristics with known age-related trends (drawing on sociolinguistic studies and acoustic data). We have provided age assessment reports for speakers of several languages, including Arabic (various dialects), Dari, Farsi (Persian), Kurdish, Pashto and Turkish. Each report clearly states the analytical methods used, the age categories applied, and the confidence level of our estimate. As with LADO, we emphasise transparency: every report explains the basis of the estimate and any uncertainties, so that decision-makers can gauge the strength of the evidence.

Who Can Benefit?

A wide range of organisations and professionals benefit from expert language analysis:

• Immigration and Border Authorities: Government departments and asylum caseworkers use LADO/LADA to evaluate applicants’ nationality and age when documentation is missing or inconsistent. A substantiated linguistic report can inform visa or asylum decisions.
• Legal Professionals: Solicitors, barristers and judges in immigration, asylum or criminal cases commission language reports to support evidence on origin or age. Linguistic analysis can help lawyers challenge or corroborate statements by clients or witnesses.
• Law Enforcement and Security Agencies: Police, intelligence services and national security agencies use linguistic profiling to aid investigations – for example, to link a suspect’s speech to a region or community, or to verify the identity of a speaker in an audio recording.
• Refugee and Humanitarian Organisations: NGOs, charities and international agencies use linguistic evidence to assist refugees and displaced persons. For instance, when assessing claims for resettlement or aid, groups may use language reports to validate origin claims or age of vulnerable individuals.
• Academic and Research Institutions: Scholars in linguistics, anthropology, human geography or criminal justice use our analyses for research into dialectology, migration patterns and sociolinguistics. Our data-driven reports can support studies of language variation and social factors.
• Media and Market Research Firms: Companies analysing audience demographics or consumer language patterns may consult language experts. For example, a broadcaster researching regional dialect use or a market researcher studying language trends in different communities can benefit from our insights.

These examples show how language expertise can support decisions in many fields. Whether confirming a teenager’s age in a visa application, verifying a foreign accent in a recorded call, or conducting academic research on language variation, our clients find objective, evidence-based analysis invaluable.

Why SILA Linguists

SILA Linguists is a leading forensic language analysis agency. Our process emphasises accuracy, objectivity and professionalism at every stage. Key strengths include:

• Native-Speaker Analysts: Our analysts are native speakers of the languages and dialects they examine. They combine first-hand cultural knowledge with rigorous linguistic training. This insider perspective greatly improves accuracy and avoids the pitfalls of relying on interpreters or non-experts. In the past, reports based solely on interpreter notes or non-specialist listeners have produced contradictory or unreliable conclusions; our native linguists ensure consistency and credibility.
• Qualified Forensic Expertise: All our analysts have formal credentials in linguistics or forensic phonetics and follow professional forensic standards. They use data-driven methods (such as acoustic measurement and likelihood reasoning) to support their findings. We maintain strict quality control and peer review, ensuring every analysis is robust and scientifically grounded.
• Methodological Transparency: We follow published guidelines and evidence-based practice. Each report clearly documents the data sources, analytical steps and interpretation. In line with forensic best practice, we explicitly consider alternative explanations and discuss uncertainty. This transparent approach helps judges, tribunals and decision-makers understand the strength of the evidence.
• Independent Counter-Reporting: SILA Linguists routinely provides unbiased second-opinion reports. If an existing analysis is disputed, we review the original audio and evidence and offer an independent evaluation. Our counter-reports have helped overturn incorrect assumptions in appeal cases, ensuring that decisions rest on sound evidence.
• Expert Witness Services: Our analysts are experienced in legal proceedings and can serve as expert witnesses. They know how to present linguistic evidence clearly to judges or juries. UK tribunals have recognised that LADO reports by native-speaker analysts (with expert oversight) carry substantial weight. Our experts can testify on both methodology and findings, reinforcing the integrity of the process.
• Comprehensive Language Coverage: We cover dozens of languages and dialects, including both major national tongues and regional/minority languages. Our team includes experts for widely spoken languages as well as under-resourced dialects that are often encountered in asylum and legal cases.