Introduction to Speech Transcripts

Welcome to one of the most interesting parts of your English Language course! In Component 01 Section B, you will always be given at least one spoken text. Because we can’t "hear" a piece of paper, speech is turned into a transcript.

A transcript is a written version of spoken words, but it’s much more than just a movie script. It includes all the "messy" parts of real talk—like pauses, stumbles, and overlaps. Learning to read these is like learning a secret code that reveals how humans actually interact. Don’t worry if they look a bit strange at first; once you know what the symbols mean, the voices will start to "speak" off the page!

The Five Language Levels: Your Analytical Toolkit

To get top marks in AO1 (Terminology), you need to look at transcripts through five different lenses. These are the core frameworks for the OCR H070 syllabus:

1. Phonetics, Phonology, and Prosodics
This is about how things are said. In a transcript, look for prosodic features like stress (underlined words), volume (CAPITAL LETTERS), or pitch. These tell you about the speaker’s emotions or what they think is important.

2. Lexis and Semantics
This is about which words are chosen. Is the speaker using formal vocabulary or informal slang? Are they using jargon (specialist language) because they are an expert in the topic?

3. Grammar and Morphology
Spoken grammar is very different from written grammar. Look for non-standard grammar (like "I ain't seen it") or ellipsis (missing out words, like saying "Coffee?" instead of "Would you like a coffee?").

4. Pragmatics
This is the "hidden" meaning. It’s about what is implied rather than what is said directly. If someone says "It's cold in here," they might pragmatically be asking you to close a window.

5. Discourse
This is the overall structure of the talk. How do speakers take turns? Who controls the conversation? Does it follow a predictable pattern, like a doctor’s consultation?

Common Transcription Symbols

In your exam, a "key" will be provided to explain the symbols used. However, you should be familiar with these common ones so you don't lose time:

  • (.) – A micropause. This is a tiny breath or a beat of silence, usually less than half a second.
  • (2.0) – A timed pause. The number inside represents seconds. Silence can show hesitation, tension, or a speaker waiting for a response.
  • // – Overlapping speech. This shows where two people are talking at the same time.
  • underlining – Indicates emphasis or stress on a specific word.
  • [ ] – Paralinguistic features. These are non-verbal sounds like [laughs], [sighs], or [coughs].

Key Features of Spoken Language

Because speech is often spontaneous (unplanned), it has unique features that you won't find in a polished essay. Look for these in your transcript:

Fillers and Hesitation

Words like "um," "er," or "y'know" are called fillers. We use them to "fill" the silence while our brain thinks of the next thing to say. They help the speaker keep their "turn" in the conversation.

False Starts and Repairs

A false start is when a speaker begins a sentence, stops, and starts again (e.g., "I went to... we decided to go to the shop"). A repair is when the speaker corrects themselves mid-sentence.

Back-channeling

Have you ever noticed yourself saying "mhm," "yeah," or "right" while a friend is telling a story? This is back-channeling. It’s a sign that the listener is paying attention and encouraging the speaker to continue. It shows cooperation.

Quick Review: Spoken language features aren't "mistakes"—they are functional tools that help us manage real-time communication!

Contextual Factors (AO3)

In Section B, you must analyse how context influences the language. Ask yourself these three questions:

1. Who are the speakers?
What is their relationship? Are they friends (informal/equal power) or a boss and employee (formal/unequal power)? This affects how much slang or politeness they use.

2. What is the setting?
Is this a private chat at home or a public interview? Speakers usually monitor their language more carefully in public settings.

3. What is the purpose?
Are they trying to share information (referential talk) or just being social and friendly (phatic talk)?

Step-by-Step: How to Approach a Transcript

  1. Read the Metadata: Always check the little blurb at the top of the text. It tells you who is speaking and why. This is your "context goldmine."
  2. Scan for Patterns: Does one person talk way more than the other? Do they interrupt each other, or is it polite?
  3. Identify Three Features: Find three specific linguistic features (e.g., a timed pause, a filler, and a piece of non-standard grammar).
  4. Link to Meaning: Don't just label the feature. Explain why it's there. "The speaker uses a timed pause (2.0) to create suspense before delivering the punchline."

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Treating speech like writing: Don't say a speaker is "bad at grammar" because they use false starts. In spoken language, these are natural and expected.

Ignoring the pauses: Silence is just as important as words! A long pause can change the whole mood of a conversation.

Feature spotting: Don't just list terms like a shopping list. You must explain how the feature relates to the context and the construction of meaning (AO3).

Key Takeaways

- Transcripts use special symbols to represent the sounds and rhythms of real speech.
- AO1 requires you to use terms like prosodics, lexis, and discourse accurately.
- AO3 focuses on how the relationship between speakers and the setting shapes the language.
- Spontaneous speech is naturally "non-fluent," containing fillers, repairs, and overlaps.

Note: For more information on how these spoken texts compare to written ones, see the next chapter: "Spoken and written texts: the effects of mode."