The language of LYING: Expert reveal clues that reveal

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The language of LYING: Expert reveals how tiny clues in the way people talk reveal when they're withholding the truth
Minimal self-references and convoluted phrases are hallmarks of a lie
Simple explanations and negative language are also giveaways
A technique called linguistic text analysis allows people to spot them
Science communicator applies technique to famous lies in a video
He showed that Lance Armstrong avoided mentioning himself when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs in a 2005 interview
Cyclist increased use of personal pronouns by 75% when admitting crime
By SARAH GRIFFITHS FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 12:46 GMT, 5 November 2014 | UPDATED: 13:11 GMT, 5 November 2014

Studies have shown that stories based on imagined experiences are qualitatively different from those based on real experiences, suggesting that coming up with a lie takes work and results in a different pattern of language use.

Linguistic text analysis helps people spot four common patterns in the subconscious language of lying.

Mr Zanden explained that liars typically mention themselves less and talk more about others in a lie.

They sometimes use the third person to disassociate themselves from their lie, because they feel subconsciously guilty.

‘Liars tend to be more negative because on a subconscious level they feel guilty about lying.

'For example, a liar might say: “Sorry, my stupid phone battery died. I hate that thing,” Mr Zanden said.

People can also spot a lie when someone explains events in very simple terms.

Our brains struggle to build a complex false story, which means that explanations about events that didn’t happen, seem unrealistically straightforward.

But while liars may keep their story simple, they tend to use longer and more convoluted sentences, inserting irrelevant but factual sounding details to pad out the lie, he said.

People can spot a lie when someone explains events in very simple terms (illustrated left). Our brains struggle to build a complex false story, which means that explanations about events that didn’t happen, seem unrealistically straightforward, compared to a real-life story (illustrated lightheartedly right)

Mr Zanden said that the devices can be seen in famous lies.

For example, when seven times winner of the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong denied using performance-enhancing drugs in 2005, he described a hypothetical situation focused on someone else, to distance himself from his lie.

Conversely, when he admitted to using them in 2013, his use of personal pronouns increased by nearly three quarters, indicating that he was telling the truth. He talked about his focus on personal emotions and motivations.


HOW TO SPOT A LIAR

Liars tend to refer to themselves less in a story that isn't true, and sometimes use hypothetical situations or mention others more than usual.

They often use negative terms, because they are subconsciously feeling guilty.

Untrue stories tend to be overly-simplified because humans find it hard to construct and keep track of complex lies.

While their story may be simple, liars tend to use longer, convoluted sentences, adding in irrelevant but factual-sounding details in a bid to make a story sound more convincing.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...ing-truth.html

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