Syrian or non-Syrian? Reflections on the use of LADO in the UK

The issue of Language Analysis for the Determination of Origin (LADO) has been well documented in linguistic research over the last decade. LADO is sought by immigration departments in different countries to assist in identifying an asylum seeker’s true place of origin or nationality, in particular where other means of identification are missing or inconclusive. This chapter discusses the use of LADO in the case of Syrian refugees in the United Kingdom. Based on a set of interviews with refugees and asylum seekers, as well as immigration lawyers, about their experience with LADO, we identify four key themes: the tendency of LADOs to fail to acknowledge sociolinguistic realities; the concept of authenticity and test takers practising their language skills towards an expected set of questions; sociolinguistic processes of accommodation; and the emotional impact on test-takers. We complete the chapter with a set of recommendations, highlighting suggested improvements to LADOs.