The YouTube-induced sequential categorization of the topical device of Amber Heard’s “lies”: an ethnomethodological forensic-linguistic perspective

Abstract The present study seeks to untangle the courtroom trial’s sequential categorization of the topical device of Amber Heard’s ‘lies’ as YouTubed by the Daily Mail . Towards this end, the study develops and utilizes a synergetic approach of the ethnomethodological method of membership categorization analysis (MCA), the reconsidered model, the forensic-linguistics model of analysing courtroom trials, and translanguaging emoji pattern analysis. The following hypothesis has been tested: YouTube-mediated courtroom trials can publicly bring out an emergent digital genre with a special kind of translocal participatory engagement of trial participants, YouTube creators, and YouTube users. Towards proving the foregoing hypothesis, three sets of YouTube-video data have been investigated. The analysis has proven the study’s hypothesis with three findings ensuing. First, a new digital genre of trial emerged with the shift from the local setting of courtroom to the translocal/global setting of YouTube. Second, the YouTube translocal affordances have enabled a situated membership categorization of Heard as a lying defendant and Vasquez as a heroic lawyer. Third, a set of morally contrastive devices have been detected through the metadiscursive practices of enabling the internet/video and video-moment reporting and quoting as well as the translanguaging practice of emoji assignment by YouTube users.