Steps involved in multilingual transcription
Transcription can be of different forms, ranging from an academic document to legal, business, and miscellaneous printed items. It primarily means converting text, video, or audio into text format, and multilingual transcriptions refer to converting them into different languages. When an audio or video is being converted into many languages and dialects, transcription and translation go hand in hand.
Under this process, the linguistic experts listen to the client’s audio or video, carefully note the important points, and translate them into text format in different languages. This makes it easy for people to read the text in various languages. Many services in the market offer the best transcription and translation of audio and video in the desired language. It is one of the basic steps of any transcript, which must undergo absolute precision to make the other steps easy to deliver a successfully transcribed product.
Steps in multilingual transcription
Transcription into different languages is used in diverse fields like businesses, organizations, and individuals who need assistance in multilingual environments like media, medicine, international conferences, and legal proceedings. In recent times, most global firms have made good use of foreign language transcription services to expand their global reach.
Transcribing audio or video in multiple languages can be a challenging process. However, with the right planning and execution, it can be done effectively and efficiently. Here are the steps involved in this process:
Collection and organization of video and audio files
Audio and video files may be in different formats like WAV, MP3, AVI, and others which may be stored on different platforms and devices. In transcribing these files into text, it is essential to collect, organize and convert them into desired formats. They can also be organized based on the speaker, topic, or desired language. This will make it easier to keep track of the files whenever needed.
Choosing transcription method
There are two primary methods of transcription:
- Consecutive– This transcription method involves listening to the audio or watching the video at full length and transcribing them afterward. They are mostly used to transcribe recorded speeches, legal proceedings, and interviews.
- Simultaneous– In this method, the transcriptionist hears the audio or watches the video and types what they hear in real-time as quickly as possible. It is one of the most common methods used in live events like conferences, meetings, etc.
Choosing the method of transcription mainly depends on the purpose, the number of speakers, the type of document being transcribed, and the difficulty of the language.
Identifying the speakers and languages
Once all the material is ready, it is essential to recognize the speakers and the language of the source document before starting the transcription process. This step will help distinguish between languages and understand their dialects, producing accurate results. While it is easy to recognize the speaker and the language in some cases, in others, the transcriptionists might have to undergo intense research to know the same.
Transcribing video or audio recordings
Once the recordings are organized, the method is selected, and the speaker and language are recognized, the transcription process will begin. Generally, the transcriptionist listens to the audio or video document over two times to understand the segment. Then, they use appropriate tools like audio editing software, noise-cancellation headphones, or a foot pedal to control the audio playback. When the transcription is done in multiple languages, each segment is converted to the necessary languages one after the other to ensure accuracy and deliver the right intent of the source document.
Editing and reviewing
Reviewing is like proofreading a written text. The transcriptionist usually reviews it multiple times with reference to the source document to ensure accuracy, clarity, and the right delivery of information and intent. They also check for typos, errors, misspellings, and mistranscriptions and correct them wherever necessary.
They sometimes also develop the practice of letting other bilingual editors, native speakers, or other transcriptionists review their work with reference to the source audio or video.
Translations if required
The original transcribed text will be converted to other languages in most multilingual transcriptions. For instance, if a speech in Spanish needs to be transcribed into English and French, the linguist follows the steps mentioned above. Once ready with the transcribed script in Spanish, they convert it to English and French. Irrespective of the procedure followed, the end product should be error-free and should accurately reflect the intent and information of the original audio or video
Formatting and delivery
Formatting of the text is to perform a final check of the text for any last-minute errors and deliver the files in the required format.
Diverse needs for multilingual transcription
For international and domestic operations of businesses, many sectors of the industry take up multilingual transcription services. Some of them are mentioned below.
- Legal transcription, like court hearings, law enforcement interviews, phone recordings, meeting minutes, conversations during depositions, and audio and video evidence.
- Medical transcriptions include dictated interactions by medical staff, examination reports, audio recordings of seminars, lectures, case studies, interviews, recorded patient statements, etc.
- Business transcriptions like interviews, audio from focused groups, conferences, workshops and seminars, and other voice and video notes from famous business personalities.
Academic transcription, including seminars, classes, lectures, eLearning materials, voice or video recorded notes, and messages from focused groups.
Importance of multilingual transcription services
Professional transcription mainly helps in multilingual communication and allows different sectors of the world to interact and communicate with one another. When such files are accurately transcribed, they make it easier for people to reach, write and share information among focused groups. Hiring firms offering multilingual transcription services makes it easier for organizations, businesses, and other individuals to format and enhance the easiness of their workflow, allowing them to communicate with people from all over the world. This will also help businesses flourish SERPs by adding written text in different languages on their web pages. In the legal and medical world, it benefits a wide array of people from different linguistic backgrounds.