Recorded material takes so many forms. It might be a presentation at a conference or board meeting, a set of complex legal instructions, even the audio for a movie. They can all be transcribed into the written word, taking the spoken language from the recording and creating a document containing the exact same information in writing. You can even have a recording where multiple people are talking at the same time transcribed, bringing clarity and definition to a recorded exchange that could otherwise prove confusing.
What is transcription?
Transcription means lifting the spoken words from a recording of any kind to create a written version that’s 100% accurate, reflecting exactly what one or numerous people have said, in an order that makes sense, so it’s crystal clear and easy to understand.
Transcription is useful for so many reasons, which we’ll look into below. But online it’s particularly important thanks to the UK’s accessibility laws. Imagine you upload a ‘how to’ video to YouTube as part of your dedication to great customer service. Your audience will include people from the Deaf community, and they’ll find it hard to understand your video unless you provide an accurate transcription. If you don’t, you could fall foul of the UK’s Disability Discrimination Act.
What’s the difference between transcription and translation?
Translation means turning a written piece into a completely different language while keeping the meaning and emotional subtleties in place. The end result should have exactly the same meaning and impact as the original language. Transcription means turning a recorded, heard or seen piece – a video or sound recording, or even a person’s thoughts – into the written word, again making sure the transcript is wholly accurate and ensuring the emotional context is reflected.
In a nutshell, it’s all about the difference between words versus meaning. Converting audio to written text requires transcription. Converting text to another language while keeping the meaning intact is translation.
What are the benefits of language transcription?
As we’ve mentioned, sometimes transcription can give people access to information that they would otherwise not have, and it’s a matter of law. You must make your content accessible to everyone, including those with difficulties seeing and hearing. But there are so many more benefits to a professional transcription service:
· Better turnaround times for audio and video projects, with faster workflow. It’s a lot easier to read and edit something than it is to constantly switch between watching, jotting things down, and editing
· There’s a vital SEO context to transcription. Search engines use words, and only words, to find the information you search for. Transcribe your video or audio and it helps you achieve better visibility in the search results, putting your content in front of more of the people who actively want to consume it
· It makes a lot more sense to provide employees with a written transcript of a meeting or conference than expect them to wade through hours of recording and video
· Written transcriptions are perfect for handing out to employees who couldn’t attend an important event in person
· The tech is so much easier – it’s simpler to open and read a doc than it is to listen back to audio
· The full text of a meeting or event is always more useful than notes – you never miss anything important
· It’s easier to search a written document for the information you need than it is to pinpoint it within a recording
How Dialogue can help with language transcription
We’re experts at transcription, helping clients of every imaginable kind with every type of audio transcribing. Whatever the purpose, we’ll ensure your information and messaging is accurate, works beautifully in context, and gets all the subtleties across to delight and reassure your audience. If that sounds right for you, get in touch with any questions or book your transcription right now.