Forensic Linguistics: Introduction

Silvia San Martin, PhD

Silvia San Martín was born in Madrid, Spain. Throughout her life she has shown an avid passion for languages and culture. This zeal has taken her to travel extensively throughout all Europe, Northern Africa, Cuba, Mexico, Central and South America.

She initially studied English Philology in the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and then completed her M.A. & Ph.D. in Spanish at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Doctor San Martín has worked as a lecturer in many universities and educational institutes such as UC San Diego, Delgado College New Orleans, Tulane University, Universidad de Salamanca, University of New Orleans, and Briam Instituto in Madrid.

She is also a certified court interpreter in the state of California and a US federally certified court interpreter.

Dr. San Martín is currently a staff interpreter for the San Diego County Superior Court and has worked for over 23 years as a professional interpreter. While she has provided services for US District Courts, state courts, FBI and ATF, her experience also includes conference and community interpreting, international conventions & meetings, advisory committee meetings, and others.

Aside from writing and editing several publications, she has also translated numerous manuals, websites, and books. She has been invited to present in national and international conferences such as ATA, ATISA, CCIA, CITI, CFI and NAJIT (National Association of Forensic Linguistics) and is affiliated with the IAFL (Association of Forensic Linguistics). 

She currently resides in San Diego and is an active member of CFI (California Federation of Interpreters).

Her vast experience and knowledge of language have allowed her to serve as a consultant and provide testimony in 14 federal and state criminal cases. She is one of very few US forensic linguists who specializes in Spanish.