Transcribing Crosstalk
Launch library · evergreen read
When two people speak simultaneously, capturing both threads accurately in text requires a clear convention, since standard left to right reading cannot represent two things happening at once the way audio naturally can without any additional explanation needed. Audio alone can convey two overlapping voices at once in a way that plain text simply cannot manage.
Some transcribers place overlapping speech in parallel columns; others mark the overlap with brackets indicating where it begins and ends within each speaker's line. Whichever convention is chosen, clarity for the reader matters more than any particular formatting tradition. Whichever system is used, a reader should be able to follow it without needing any separate explanation.
Crosstalk is also worth noting for what it reveals beyond its content: frequent interruption can itself be part of the story, a signal of tension, excitement, or simply an animated and comfortable exchange between people who know each other well. Noting this pattern, rather than smoothing it away, can preserve part of the story worth keeping visible.