Top tips for transcribing texts

Some rules apply

• Start sentences with capital letters and end them with full stops.

• Use simple punctuation whenever you can. Except don’t use the exclamation mark

• Start a new line for each new speaker.• Use ellipsis ……. to show gaps or pauses.• When someone uses stress or emphasizes a

word then put it in bold.

Don’t worry

• Be faithful to what you hear and type it• Don’t try to change or correct grammar – it is

what it is! • Ellision is a feature of spoken grammar –

‘wanna’ and ‘gonna’ are OK• It is OK to use ‘umm’, ‘ah’ , ‘er’ as you write.• ‘mmm’ usually indicates agreement –this is the

equivalent of the speaker nodding or showing agreement

sounds

• If someone laughs – write (laughs).• If someone cries – write (cries).• If someone interrupts – write – (2 long

dashes)

Your task

• Listen to ‘teacher talk’ and transcribe it

Your prompt

• Get your recording device ready• 1 ….. 2 ….. 3

•What are you going to eat tonight?