| Symbol |
Name |
Use |
| [text] |
Brackets |
Indicates the start and end points of overlapping
speech. |
| = |
Equal Sign |
Indicates the break and subsequent continuation of
a single utterance. |
| (# of seconds) |
Timed Pause |
A number in parenthesis indicates the time, in seconds,
of a pause in speech. |
| (.) |
Micropause |
A brief pause, usually less
than .2 seconds. |
. or  |
Period or Down Arrow |
Indicates falling pitch or intonation. |
? or  |
Question Mark or Up Arrow |
Indicates rising pitch or intonation. |
| , |
Comma |
Indicates a temporary rise or fall in intonation. |
| - |
Hyphen |
Indicates an abrupt hault or interuption in utterance. |
| >text< |
Greater than/Less than symbols |
Indicates that the enclosed speech was delivered
more rapidly than usual for the speaker. |
| <text> |
Less than/Greater than symbols |
Indicates that the enclosed speech was delivered
more slowly than usual for the speaker. |
 |
Degree symbol |
Indicates whisper, reduced volume, or quiet speech. |
| ALL CAPS |
Capitalized text |
Indicates shouted or increased volume in speech. |
| underline |
Underlined speech |
Indicates the speaker is emphasizing or stressing
the speech. |
| ::: |
Colon or Colons |
Indicates prolongation of sound. |
| (hhh) |
|
Audible exhalation. |
or (.hhh) |
High Dot |
Audible inhalation. |
| (text) |
Parenthesis |
Speech which is unclear or in doubt in the transcript. |
| ((italic text)) |
Double Parenthesis |
Annotation of non-verbal activity. |
Jefferson Transcipt Notation is described in G. Jefferson,
Transcript Notation, in J. Heritage (eds),
Structures of Social Interaction, New York: Cambridge University
Press, 1984.