What is the definition of phonemic transcription?

Phonemic transcription is best described as a representation using broader categories of sounds, which emphasizes the distinct phonemes of a language rather than the exact pronunciation details. This type of transcription is concerned with capturing the essential sounds that can distinguish meaning in a language, allowing for variations in pronunciation that do not alter the meaning of words.

In phonemic transcription, each unique sound is represented by a specific symbol from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), focusing on the abstract sound units. This method is particularly useful in linguistic studies and language teaching, as it simplifies the representation of speech into a manageable system of phonemes that can be easily understood and applied.

The other choices address aspects that are not central to the concept of phonemic transcription. For instance, transcribing speech sounds with all variations pertains to a more detailed and specific form known as phonetic transcription, which includes all nuances in articulation. Metadata about speech tone and pitch relates more to suprasegmental features of speech and not directly to the discrete units of sound. Lastly, a focus on specific phonetic details also aligns with phonetic transcription rather than phonemic, as the latter abstracts away from the specific variations to emphasize sound categories.