01/12/2022
With so many applications for transcribed text, it is no surprise there are different types of transcription to choose from. In some cases, a literal transcription is vital, in others readability is the primary objective, or maybe a simple overview will suffice.
The four most common types of transcription are verbatim, intelligent verbatim, edited and phonetic.
1. Verbatim transcription
A verbatim transcription captures every sound and silence that occurs. From coughs and laughter to verbal pauses and fillers (er… um… yeah… you know?). Verbatim transcriptions also record ‘noises off’, such as doors slamming and phones ringing.
2. Intelligent verbatim transcription
An intelligent verbatim transcription removes any irrelevant elements from the text, such as fillers and needless repetition. The result is a more concise, readable transcript that remains faithful to the original recording in every other way.
3. Edited transcription
An edited transcription is revised to remove any superfluous content, amend any grammatical mistakes and complete any unfinished sentences. The result can be a more formal representation of what was said, but it will be easier to read and understand than the original verbatim transcription.
4. Phonetic transcription
Phonetic transcription uses symbols to record the phonemes (the smallest distinct units of sound in a language), rather than the actual words spoken. Phonetic transcription should follow the same process for all languages, with symbols representing the same sound. A phonetic transcription is useful when pronunciation is important – such as when comparing speech between different age groups, locations or periods of time.
