Analysing Spoken Language

The analysis of spoken language is a distinct and important skill. Spoken language differs from written language in fundamental ways — it is typically produced in real time, without the opportunity for editing, and it is shaped by the immediate social context in which it occurs. This lesson covers the key concepts, frameworks, and techniques you need to analyse spoken language effectively at A-Level.

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Transcription Conventions

Spoken language data is usually presented in the form of a transcript — a written representation of spoken language. Transcripts use special conventions to capture features of speech that have no equivalent in standard written English.

The most widely used system is based on the conventions developed by Gail Jefferson (used in Conversation Analysis):