How are nonverbal cues sometimes handled in transcripts?

• A. Omitted entirely.
• B. Noted in brackets or separate notes to provide context when nonverbal signals are essential to understanding.
• C. Replaced with descriptive prose about actions only.
• D. Only included if requested by counsel.

Answer: (B)

Nonverbal cues matter for understanding testimony, so transcripts sometimes include them in a way that preserves the exact spoken words while still signaling additional context. The best approach is to place short indicators in brackets right after the relevant speech or to attach a separate note explaining the gesture, tone, or timing. This keeps the verbatim record intact while ensuring readers grasp how the speaker delivered those words, which can influence meaning—such as emphasis, hesitancy, sarcasm, or uncertainty. Examples like [pause], [sigh], [whisper], or [shrugs] show that the cue existed without inserting it into the spoken text, and a brief note can capture more complex context if needed. Omitting nonverbal cues entirely loses interpretive information, replacing them with descriptive prose about actions would rewrite what was said rather than simply annotating how it was said, and including cues only when counsel requests can lead to inconsistency.