What is the Conversational Analysis style of transcription?
Conversational analysis style is the most complex style of transcription offered by Sterling Transcription and serves as an alternative to slightly edited or strict verbatim transcripts. It is a method capable of uncovering various paralinguistic features and, through the inclusion of specific symbols, seeks to describe subtle speaker interactions. While it is a style most suited to linguistic research, it is ideal in any case where analysis of non-verbal communication is sought.
What’s the difference between standard slightly edited transcripts and conversational analysis transcripts?
Below is an example illustrating the difference between standard slightly edited transcripts and conversational analysis transcripts.
Slightly Edited style:
Interviewee: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Conversational Analysis style: Conversational analysis is not only transcribed strict verbatim but includes symbols and additional information relating to pace, tone, laughter et cetera.
Interviewee: [Quiet laughter] And- um- the (.) er (.) the (.) quick brown fox JUMPS over the (.) ahh (.) lazy (coughs) dog.
What can a conversational analysis transcription style reveal in a text?
One advantage of conversational analysis is the significant flexibility it offers to clients, whose transcripts can be personalised according to their specific research interests. Professional typists can tailor a document to identify specific features and denote these features using whichever notation technique is prescribed. For instance, a client can have details such as laughter, tone, pace and, in the case of video files, even descriptions of actions included.
Why request a conversational analysis style?
A conversational analysis style transcript is an effective research tool for a client who wishes to extract the greatest possible meaning from speaker interactions, whether in a focus group or one-on-one interview. It is a style that is ideal where a client has complex transcription requirements in which detail is crucially important.
To gain the most out of this transcription style, documents may be synchronised or entered into compatible templates to facilitate the use of qualitative analysis software such as Leximancer, Nvivo or ATLAS.ti.
Further information on conversational analysis
More in-depth information on the conversational analysis and its relevance to fields such as psychology, sociology and medical research can be found in various publications including:
George Psathas, 1995. Conversational analysis: The Study of Talk-in-Interaction. California: Sage Publications.
Monrouxe, L. V. (2010), ‘Identity, identification and medical education: why should we care?’ Medical Education, 44: 40–49.
For general enquiries or pricing information about conversational analysis style transcription, please contact Sterling Transcription.
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