How does broad transcription differ from close transcription?

Broad transcription focuses on the general phonetic characteristics of speech sounds, capturing the essential elements of pronunciation without delving into the finer details. This approach is typically less detailed compared to close transcription, which records all the relevant nuances such as slight variations in articulation or specific phonetic features.

In broad transcription, the emphasis is on capturing phonemes—the abstract units of sound that can distinguish meaning—while in close transcription, diacritics may be employed to indicate precise articulatory details and phonetic variations. As a result, broad transcription tends to be simpler and more straightforward, making it suitable for larger, less detailed analyses of speech segments, while close transcription allows for a more thorough examination of the subtleties in speech production.

Understanding this distinction is crucial for students of phonetics as it allows them to choose the appropriate level of detail needed for their specific analysis or documentation of spoken language.