NCJ Number
208585
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2005 Pages: 177-184
Date Published
January 2005
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study examined the class characteristics of handwriting in English by the Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore, where they participate in an education system in which each child learns English and his/her native language as a second language.
Abstract
The study focused on whether learning handwriting in a distinctive native language might be transmitted to a distinctive form of handwriting in English. A total of 154 English writing specimens were obtained from 50 Chinese, 52 Malays, and 52 Indians. The ages of the participants ranged between 18 and 60. Although they had different occupations and educational levels, all had attended local primary and secondary schools. Handwriting specimens were studied in an effort to identify any characteristic features that distinguished native groups. The handwriting features analyzed included letter formation, letter design, pen-lift, letter and word spacing, and embellishment. Statistical significance for observed differences was determined with a chi-square test. The study found significant differences in the characteristics of the English handwriting that could be traced to the handwriting of the three languages represented, i.e., Chinese, Tamil, and Arabic. This paper describes the differences in the English handwriting of the three groups and how these differences are to be explained by the characteristics of the native handwriting of each group. The authors advise that by using the procedure described in this study, document examiners can determine the class characteristics in English handwriting of different individuals accustomed to writing in their native language. 2 tables, 13 figures, and 10 references