LIN 351 Week 11 HW: Interviewing (and transcribing)

Part 1: Conduct a Short Interview

  1. This week, you try out the (HAB) interview module that the class created.
  2. Look for a friend or relative who is willing to spare you about 30 minutes.
  3. Ask them if they could help you out. Use the consent procedure discussed in class.
  4. Be sure to have them sign the form, and give them a copy to keep.
  5. If they say yes, be ready with a recording device (your phone or laptop is fine).
  6. Make sure you know how to quickly start recording, ideally in .wav format.
  7. Start the up the recording and thank them for agreeing to help you out. Then conduct your interview, using your (HAB) module as a guide.
  8. Once you have finished, thank them and check that the recording worked.
  9. Ask if there's anything they want you to delete from the recording.

Part 2: Get your recording onto a computer in .wav or .mp4 format

  1. You need to work out how to get your recording onto your computer so that you can link it to a new ELAN .eaf file.
  2. Your recording file may need to be converted to .wav or .mp4 format, if your phone/computer recorded it in some other format. You can either do it yourself with a desktop (NOT ONLINE) program like Audacity. (Why not online? You promised confidentiality to your participant!)
  3. Or you can get help from Kaleigh. If you upload your file as an attachment in the Week 11 Homework assignment, Kaleigh will convert it to .wav format and return it to you (by email) within 48 hours. Please message her through Quercus if you submit your file before Monday, Mar. 24.

Part 3: Transcribe your Short Interview

You may do all of this in Week 11, as originally planned for the course. OR, you may submit Part 3 in Week 12.
  1. Your third part of the assignment is to transcribe the recording, in ELAN.
  2. Set up a new .eaf and save it.
  3. Link the .wav or .mp4 file containing your recording. (ELAN will prompt you at the beginning , or you can do it by picking "Linked files" in the Edit menu.) First segment the recording into breath groups (or short utterances). Use Segmentation mode for this.
  4. Then return to Annotation mode.
  5. Create a tier named "Main Speaker" and a tier named "Interviewer." (Remember about daughter tiers and first creating a type for each Tier.)
  6. Using standard spelling, and as little punctuation as possible, transcribe what each of you said, making sure each utterance goes in the appropriate time-aligned tier. Don't transcribe anyone else that may have spoken during the recording, if they didn't consent to participate.

Look back to the notes/handouts from the Celeste exercise at the very start of the semester!
You may also want to look for help in Extending ELAN or check the ELAN manual.

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Updated March 13, 2025