As oral historians, our commitment to clean verbatim transcription aims for accuracy and preserves the spoken word as closely as possible. However, the richness of an oral history interview often extends beyond the dialogue itself. Significant sound events – a sudden shift in tone, a poignant sigh, the distant chime of a clock – can add crucial layers of meaning and context to the narrative. Ignoring these sonic cues in our transcripts risks losing valuable insights. So, how do we ethically and effectively note these significant sound events within a clean verbatim framework?

The Balancing Act: Accuracy vs. Context

Clean verbatim transcription prioritizes transcribing every spoken word, including “ums,” “ahs,” and stutters. While this level of detail is essential for linguistic analysis and preserving the natural flow of speech, it can sometimes obscure the impact of non-verbal sounds. Our goal is to strike a balance – maintaining the integrity of the spoken word while thoughtfully noting significant sonic events that enhance understanding.

Principles for Noting Significant Sound Events:

Relevance is Key: Not every cough or chair squeak warrants inclusion. Focus on sounds that directly contribute to the meaning, emotion, or context of the moment. Consider:

• Emotional Cues: Sighs, laughter (and its tone), gasps, sobs, changes in vocal tone (e.g., a whisper, a raised voice).
• Environmental Context: Sounds that ground the interview in a specific time or place (e.g., a passing train, a baby crying, the ringing of a telephone mentioned in the narrative).
• Non-Verbal Communication: Sounds that convey agreement, disagreement, hesitation, or emphasis (e.g., a sharp intake of breath, a prolonged silence accompanied by a specific sound).

Brevity and Clarity: Keep your notations concise and easy to understand. Avoid overly descriptive or subjective interpretations. Stick to clear, objective labels.

Consistency is Crucial: Establish a consistent system for noting sound events and adhere to it throughout the transcription. This ensures readability and facilitates analysis.

Placement Matters: Position your notations strategically within the transcript to indicate precisely when the sound event occurs in relation to the spoken words.

Distinguish Speaker and Environmental Sounds: Clearly differentiate between sounds produced by the interviewee or interviewer and external environmental sounds.

Suggested Notation Conventions (Adapt as Needed):

Here are some common and relatively unobtrusive conventions you can adapt for your clean verbatim transcripts:

Non-Verbal Vocalizations (Speaker):

(sigh)

(laughs) – Consider adding a brief descriptor if the nature of the laughter is significant (e.g., (laughs softly), (laughs nervously)).

(gasps)

(sobs)

(whispers)

(voice trails off)

(clears throat) – Only if it seems significant (e.g., before a difficult topic).

(sharp intake of breath) – Often indicates surprise or emotion.

Significant Pauses Accompanied by Sound (Speaker or Environment):

(pause, clock chimes in the background)

(silence, followed by a deep sigh)

Environmental Sounds:

[train passing]

[telephone rings]

[door closes]

[baby crying in the distance]

[rustling of papers] – Only if it seems relevant to the narrative (e.g., interviewee looking at a document).

Changes in Vocal Delivery (Speaker):

(voice rising)

(voice becomes softer)

(voice trembling)

(emphatic tone)

Examples in Practice:

Original Transcript Snippet:

…and then, I just… I couldn’t believe it. He just walked away.

With Sound Event Notation:

…and then, I just… I couldn’t believe it. (sigh) He just walked away.

Original Transcript Snippet:

It was a difficult time, you know? We didn’t have much.

With Sound Event Notation:

It was a difficult time, you know? (voice becomes softer) We didn’t have much.

Original Transcript Snippet:

I remember that day so clearly. The bells were ringing.

With Sound Event Notation:

I remember that day so clearly. [church bells ringing in the background] The bells were ringing.

Tools and Technology:

Many transcription software programs allow for the insertion of timestamps and notes. Utilize these features to accurately mark the occurrence of significant sound events. Some programs even allow you to link audio segments to specific notations, which can be invaluable during analysis.

The Value of the Sonic Landscape:

By thoughtfully incorporating significant sound events into our clean verbatim transcripts, we enrich the historical record. We provide researchers with a more complete sensory experience of the interview, allowing them to better understand the emotional weight, the environmental context, and the subtle cues that contribute to the overall meaning of the narrative. It moves us beyond a purely linguistic understanding and allows us to hear the echoes of the past in their fullest form.

Let’s strive to capture not just the words, but the significant sounds that color the memories and shape the stories our narrators so generously share.

Looking to start your own oral history project? Check out our blog post, “Unearthing the Past: A Guide to Resources for Oral History Research.” It’s your go-to guide for discovering where to find the tools and support you need to capture and share invaluable oral histories and remember to always be kind, stay positive and learn to unwind.