Key to Transcription Symbols[1]

[ ]

[ ]                 Overlapping talk

 

=                    "Latched" or nearly overlapping turns at talk

 

( )               Transcription of questionable or inaudible talk

 

(( ))              TranscriberÕs description

 

(0.6)                Intervals between utterances, timed in tenths of a second

 

(.)                    Very brief untimed intervals of silence

 

-                       An abruptly ended or "cut off" utterance

 

underscore       Stressed sounds or syllables

 

: or ::                Stretched sounds or syllables

 

.                       Cascading intonation that rises at the beginning and falls at the end of an utterance

                        (not necessarily the end of a sentence)

 

,                       Cascading but continuing intonation (not necessarily the end of clause or phrase)

 

?                      Rising intonation (not necessarily indicative of a question)

 

,?                        Rising intonation within a continuing utterance,           not as pronounced as ?

 

­                      Rise in pitch (e.g., shrill voice)

 

ø                      Drop in pitch (e.g., deep voice)

 

CAPS               Talk that is louder than surrounding talk

 

¡ ¡                Talk that is quieter than surrounding talk

 

> <               Talk said more quickly than surrounding talk

 

< >               Talk said more slowly than surrounding talk

 

.h                     Inhalation

 

h                     Exhalation

 

$                      Smile voice

 

~                      Shaky voice


[1] Based on the transcription system developed by Gail Jefferson (see Atkinson, J.M. & Heritage, J. (Eds.) (1984). Structures of social action: Studies in conversation analysis. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ).