The Master’s Program in Linguistics at Universitas Gadjah Mada, through the Forensic Linguistics course taught by Dr. Sailal Arimi, M.Hum., in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation Unit (Sat Reskrim) of the Malinau Regional Police under the North Kalimantan Regional Police, organized a special technical lecture entitled Writing Expert Witness Examination Reports. The event was held on Thursday, 30 April 2026, in Courtroom 1 of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta.

In addition to being attended by the course instructor, who also serves as a language expert, the event was joined by students with an interest in Forensic Linguistics. Student participation aimed to introduce linguistic perspectives into the processes and practices of preparing expert witness statements, including understanding the chronology of legal cases, identifying legal subjects, analyzing language-related criminal complaints, and examining the precision of diction, narrative structure, and ambiguity avoidance in official examination reports (Berita Acara Pemeriksaan or BAP).

The event featured police investigators AIPDA Budi Hermansyah, S.H., and Bripda Abimanyu Akbar, S.H., from the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Malinau Regional Police, along with several graduate students in Linguistics. In their presentation, the investigators explained the distinction between preliminary inquiry (penyelidikan) and formal investigation (penyidikan). They emphasized that expert witness testimony constitutes one form of legal evidence (novum) necessary for bringing a case before the court. They also discussed recent developments in the implementation of Indonesia’s new Criminal Code (KUHP), particularly regarding the expansion of admissible legal evidence. Furthermore, they elaborated on cases commonly handled by investigators, ranging from violations of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE) to various forms of fraud, including phishing, scamming, and related cybercrimes.

Dr. Sailal Arimi, M.Hum., explained that “the involvement of students specializing in Forensic Linguistics in this activity represents part of the implementation of teaching alongside research, as well as an effort to strengthen the role of linguistics within the legal domain.” He further noted that this practitioner-based class has been conducted since 2019 for master’s and doctoral students enrolled in forensic linguistics courses.

During the question-and-answer session, students raised various inquiries concerning legal case management procedures, the eligibility of expert witnesses, and the types of cases most frequently encountered. One student participant, Moh. Nawalul Fawaid El Haqi, remarked that “this experience was extremely valuable. We learned that the meaning of a single word in an expert witness examination report can influence the direction of a judge’s decision. At the same time, investigators also learned to view expert testimony as a text that must be constructed on the basis of theoretical linguistic knowledge that we have studied thus far.”

The collaboration between the Master’s Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Malinau Regional Police represents a pioneering initiative in bridging police science and forensic linguistic analysis. This activity is expected to serve as a collaborative model for handling legal cases across regions—particularly between Kalimantan and Java—while enhancing the quality of investigations through an interdisciplinary approach at the national level.

Yogyakarta, December 16, 2025 – The second session of the Neuroscience-Based Language Teaching Talk Show, themed Teaching with Emotion: How Affective Neuroscience Enhances Language, was held at R. Soegondo Building, Room 709, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The event discussed the role of emotions in language learning and how a neuroscience-based approach can improve teaching effectiveness.

Moderated by Reski Ramadhani, the talk show featured four speakers: Natasya Ayu, Asmaul Husna, Luailik Mushffa, and Tisa Aini. The discussion focused on teachers’ practical experiences in managing both student and teacher emotions while ensuring that academic objectives are achieved effectively.

One of the speakers, Asmaul Husna, shared her experience conducting a teaching experiment in a basic speaking class at Kampung Inggris. She compared two approaches implemented in different periods, namely a content-focused approach and an emotionally driven approach. “When we build emotional closeness with students, they feel truly valued,” Asmaul said. She added that students who received emotional support showed greater appreciation and more positive feedback at the end of the course.

Luailik Mushffa highlighted the challenges of applying a neuroscience-based approach in the classroom, particularly in relation to teachers’ emotional readiness. She explained that teachers need to regulate their emotions before teaching in order to create a positive learning atmosphere. “In this neuroscience approach, we focus on students’ emotions. However, teachers’ emotions also need to be managed before entering the classroom,” she explained. She also emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between emotional management and the achievement of learning objectives.

Practical advice was delivered by Tisa Aini, who encouraged teachers to engage in self-reflection before teaching. “Please take five to ten minutes before entering the classroom for a self-check,” she said. According to her, teachers’ emotions are easily transmitted to students, making emotional stability a key foundation for creating a sense of safety in the learning process.

Meanwhile, Natasya Ayu stressed the importance of developing a positive mindset among students toward language learning. She reminded teachers not to frame language learning as something difficult and encouraged the use of contextual and realistic learning materials. In her view, making mistakes while speaking is a natural part of the journey toward language fluency.

Overall, the talk show illustrated that language teaching cannot be separated from emotional aspects, both for students and teachers. A more humane and emotionally aware approach is seen as essential in creating a supportive, sustainable learning environment that remains relevant to learners’ future needs.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), proudly congratulates two Linguistics students, Soniakurniawati and Safira Rizky Amanda GP, for successfully presenting their research at The 16th Asian Conference on Education (ACE 2024). This prestigious conference was organized by IAFOR and held from November 25 to 29, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan.

Their research, titled “Implementation of Traditional Javanese Games for Early Childhood to Preserve the Javanese Language: A Quasi-Experimental Research,” highlights the importance of preserving the Javanese language by introducing traditional games to early childhood education. This innovative approach combines cultural heritage with effective language learning methods.

The conference was attended by academics, researchers, and education practitioners from around the globe, providing a strategic platform for both students to share ideas and expand their academic perspectives.

This achievement further emphasizes FIB UGM’s global contribution to education and cultural preservation. The dedication and success of Soniakurniawati and Safira Rizky Amanda GP serve as an inspiration for other students to strive for excellence and contribute at an international level.

Master of Linguistics Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada will receive a visit from the Language Center of Southeast Sulawesi Province on:

Day/Date: Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Time: 13.00 – 15.15 WIB

Place: Room 721, Soegondo Building 7th Floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM

This meeting aims to discuss the Compilation of Bilingual Dictionary (Indonesia-Region) and Writing of Scientific Articles, as well as discuss other opportunities for cooperation between the two parties.

This activity will be attended by:

Dean of Faculty of Humanities

Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs

Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources

Head and Secretary of the Master of Linguistics Study Program

Delegates from the Language Center of Southeast Sulawesi Province (3 people)

Cooperation and Public Relations Unit (2 people)

Through this meeting, it is hoped that a good synergy can be established in developing linguistics, especially related to regional language documentation and improving the quality of scientific publications.

The Master of Linguistics Study Program would like to respectfully and proudly congratulate the distinguished academics of the Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Gadjah Mada on achieving the title of Professor:

✨ Prof. Dr. Hendrokumoro, M.Hum

 ✨ Prof. Dr. Suhandano, M.A

 ✨ Prof. Dr. Sajarwa, M.Hum

This achievement is a form of extraordinary dedication in the world of academics and science. Hopefully this achievement will be a driving force to continue working and make a greater contribution to the progress of the nation and inspire future generations of academics.

Congratulations and success always!