Pronunciation Comments
Symbol | <!...>
Definition | A pronunciation comment is used to warn the person using the transcription of unusual pronunciation, such as slang or accents, and also reduced words (contractions), assimilations, and words which are pronounced other as the standard pronunciation. The reason pronunciation comments are used is to express the deviation between actual pronunciation and the canonical (standard) one.
Rules for Transcribing the Pronunciation Comments
| The pronunciation comment includes the deviation. 1. The full-form is transcribed outside of the carats <>, within the transcription 2. The deviation, or what was articulated, is set within the carats. 3. Within the carats, an exclamation mark is first transcribed to note the presence of a comment, followed by a number which represents the amount of words involved. 4. A white space then follows and finally, the deviation. 5. Punctuation comes after the comment, but before a bracketing.
Examples | If a speaker uses "I'm," which is the contraction of 'I' and 'am.' I am <!2 I'm> Things to note about this example: A white space is present before and after the comment. The full-form is the 'I am'. In the word 'c'mon', the full-form would be 'come on.' The exclamation point symbolizes a pronunciation comment. The "2" signifies that two words are affected. The apostrophe marks the location of the missing sound
Types of Pronunciation Comments
Contractions | Definition: Although contractions are appropriate in both spoken and written language, in transcription we use the pronunciation comment in order to clarify meaning. For example, the contraction 'I'd' could mean either 'I would,' 'I could,' or 'I had.' The full-form and pronunciation comment would clarify in such a situation. The apostrophe is used at the location of the deleted sound or sounds. The apostrophe in the contraction represents a missing sound. This is the principal characterization of a contraction
| Description: Of course, other contractions like 'I'm' are certain in their meaning, in this case 'I am.' But in order to remain consistent, we extend all contractions to their full (generally) two-word form, with only a few exceptions.
| Exception: English negations are NOT extended through the use of a pronunciation comment. A negation is any contraction that involves the word 'not.' Negations include the words: don't, won't, can't and isn't. They are not extended to their full-form for 3 reasons: 1. The meaning is always clear, the contracted word is always 'not.' 2. The negation may not make grammatical sense in its extended form. Ex: Don't you know him? vs. Do not you know him? 'Do not you know him' does not make grammatical sense. It should rather read: 'do you not know him?'
| Examples: These are examples of contractions that are written in their full forms, with the convention in brackets representing what is actually heard during the transcript.
1. I had <!2 I'd> | These are written in their full forms to represent the meaning behind what was actually said and to avoid ambiguities
2. could have <!2 could've>
3. might have <!2 might've>
4. that is <!2 that's>
However, the following examples would be left alone in their contracted forms:
don't | wouldn't | Because these are negations, there cannot be any ambiguity as to their exact meaning. Therefore, they can remain in their contracted forms.
won't | couldn't
can't | isn't
Note that pronunciation comments are NOT to be treated as lexical items, but as additional information given TO or ABOUT lexical items.
Missing sounds
| Description: If a contraction leads in addition to a changing of sounds, no apostrophe is used anymore to replace missing sounds. Sound changes can occur, if for example in fluent speech two or more words get melted together.
| Examples: The following are examples of such "melted" words that are contractions, which do not have an apostrophe because of additionally occurring sound changes. 1. want to <!2 wanna> 2. sort of <! sorta> 3. going to <! gonna> In a pronunciation comment a missing sound will be replaced by an apostrophe as long as there does not occur any additional sound change. If there is also a sound change no apostrophe is used.
Pronunciation Deviations
| Definition: A speaker's pronunciation may be non-canonical in some cases.
| Description: Dialectal pronunciations, diverging stylistic variants, slips/erratic pronunciations and others would be considered pronunciation deviations. You write the intended word in standard language followed by a comment in which an indication of the actual pronunciation should be given - using the closest orthographic correspondence of what was pronounced.
| Example: 1. What is heard: I am going w[i:]th him. - [i:] like in feet 1. Transcription: I am going with him <!1 weeth> him. 2. What is heard: How many d[aI]s ? - [aI] like in pie 2. Transcription: How many days <!1 dies>?