The benefits of language transcription and where it originated

Transcription is the process of listening to video and/or audio and writing it into text in the source language. Simply put, transcription is the conversion of spoken words into writing.

The earliest forms of transcription date back to ancient Egypt, around 3400 BC. Scribes wrote down the history and laws given by kings and aristocrats at that time. The scribes would attend school and dedicate their lives to learning and perfecting this skill. However, instead of a computer, they used stone tablets or papyrus.

Alexander Graham Bell — whose mother and wife were deaf — put a spin on Thomas Edison’s phonograph in the early 1880s creating the first dictation machine. The machine used a wax cylinder. A typist would pump the machine by foot in order to play back a recording and then listen using stethoscope-type earphones. 

The invention of the typewriter in 1867 by Christopher Latham Sholes pushed transcription into the future making the work far faster. And it has only improved from there with the invention of computers, word processing software, and the internet. Professional transcribers can now do their work anytime, anywhere.

 There are several benefits to transcribing certain video or audio projects within a company. Having meetings or conferences transcribed will give employees physical records without having someone take notes during the event. This will be important for future use, specifically if the subject matter needs to be presented in document form.

Here are a few additional reasons why transcription is beneficial from a business standpoint:

• Expanded accessibility

Closed captioning was developed for those who are hearing impaired. It has continued to be an important part of video programming and another benefit of transcription. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 13% of the US population, or about 30 million people, ages 12 and older have hearing loss in both ears. Transcription is an important tool to ensure this population isn’t ignored and expands a company’s reach. Studies have shown that closed captioning also helps an audience further understand the material.

• Increased views and Search Engine Optimization

Using podcasts as an example, it’s frustrating when a video or audio project is difficult to locate online. Transcribing a podcast ensures the video/audio is seen by online search engines and maximizes SEO reach. This will also make a project more shareable and inclusive.

• Reduction in company manpower and time

Hiring a professional language services company instead of doing transcription in-house will save a company time and manpower. Transcription is meticulous and having a professional do the work also ensure accuracy and efficiency.

Teneo Linguistics Company offers both audio and video transcription services in most language combinations. High-quality, clear, and frequently confidential transcription can be a complex process. TLC handles all transcription projects with ease and affordable pricing.

Projects that TLC will transcribe include:

• Taped meetings, calls, or video surveillance
• Conference proceedings, lectures, or seminars
• E-Learning
• Market research
• Clinical interviews
• Psychological assessments
• Podcasts

TLC provides monolingual translation, target language transcription, and bilingual transcription. Monolingual is when the source language audio is transcribed into text in the same language. Target language transcription is when the source language audio is transcribed directly into the requested language text. Bilingual transcription is where the source language audio is transcribed into text in the same language followed by the requested language.

All multilingual transcription projects are tailored to clients’ goals. The TLC team not only has excellent linguistic skills and appropriate subject matter expertise but also significant experience with transcription.

Learn more about TLC’s transcription services, and other language services, or request a quote by visiting www.tlctranslation.com.