Parentheticals for Added Context

Not only can the spoken word be difficult to transcribe in a grammatically correct fashion but it also can be devoid of some important context if only the words are transcribed. Humans use more than just words to communicate. Emotion, inflection, and gestures are just a few examples that can change the meaning of a line of text dramatically.

So how do we as transcriptionists include this significant information? We use what are called parentheticals, also know as asides. Parentheticals are clarifying words, phrases, or remarks in parentheses that are inserted in a transcript.

You may already use some of these in your transcripts. Indicating laughter in some manner is pretty standard in transcripts, but indicating that a speaker is mimicking or mocking someone, crying, shouting, whispering, just to name a few, are all important additions that give added meaning. Without parentheticals a person reading a transcript might misinterpret a line that is said in jest as a factual opinion.

Parenthenticals don't necessarily have to be in parentheses. You could also use brackets as well as italics to set them off from the rest of the text. Here's just a few examples of formatting:

• (laughter)
• [laughter]
• (laughter)
• [laughter]

As always, it's important to check with your clients as to whether or not they want this information included. Some don't, which I don't understand, but I'm sure they have their reasons.

Marking Inaudibles and Phonetic Words and Phrases When Transcribing

Chances are that each contract or client you work for has their own ways of handling inaudible or phonetic spellings.

You might mark inaudible in any one of the following ways:

• ________
• (inaudible)
• [inaudible]
• (unintelligible)
• [indiscernible]

On the other hand, sometimes you might come across words that you are unsure how to spell or that you can only guess what the speaker says. If you're unable to confirm the correct spelling, most companies and clients will ask that you mark the spelling as phonetic. There are several ways to do this as well:

• Highlight the text
• Change the color of the text
• Enclose the text in brackets
• Follow the text with [ph]

In both of these situations, you'll want to follow the preferences of the person requesting the transcript. If they do not have a preference, it's important to be consistent throughout your transcript regardless of the way you choose to do it.

Another important thing to remember is that many companies and clients want to know if there is an excessive number of inaudibles in the text so that they can decide whether you should continue or not. It's a good idea to establish upfront what their guidelines are for sending a sample, especially for files with shorter turnaround times (TATs) or rush delivery.