Verbatim TRANSCRIPTion Services

Isabel's Typing Services offer two types of transcription service, Unabridged Verbatim and Refined Verbatim. The most common style used for interview transcription and focus group transcription is refined verbatim. However, we can accommodate for any variations in between these two styles as per a clients request.

REFINED VERBATIM TRANSCRIPTION

Refined verbatim is the most popular option and also less expensive than unabridged verbatim transcription as it is more enjoyable for the transcriptionist to work with and takes much less time. The end result is often more desirable for our clients also as it is makes a much easier transcript to read.

Refined verbatim ensures a full, accurate transcript but omits all the 'ums', 'ahs', repetitions, pauses and verbal habits such as excessive use of 'you know what I mean' and 'kind of', unless this is obviously relevant to the content. In effect we take out the clutter that has no relevance and adds nothing to the context of the transcript. The benefit, apart from it being easier to read, and in many cases easier to understand, is it takes a lot less time to transcribe and therefore costs you less money.

We can even clean up the transcript further by excluding unfinished sentences, contractions and even correcting incorrect grammar. We leave the rest exactly as spoken, which still retains the overall style of the person speaking as well as the context of the conversation.

UNABRIDGED VERBATIM TRANSCRIPTION

This service offers a transcript of absolutely everything said on a recording. Perfect for interviews for legal purposes or for university qualitative analysis. Unabridged Verbatim includes every repetition, 'ums', 'ahs', 'uh-huh' and instances where people drift off in mid comment with no obvious end to the sentence. We will also include all expressions of emotion such as laughter, crying or outbursts, etc.

The different speakers speech styles, dialects and accent patterns will also be transcribed where possible. Added emphasis, such as a shout, cough, or banging on the desk, as well as examples of speakers over stressing a word will also be included in the transcription. This provides the reader with as much information as possible and relates in words what was being said as well as the conversational style of the recording.

DIFFERENTIATING SPEAKERS

Reference to different speakers is normally made through a lined space with the interviewer appearing in bold to help keep track of who is who as it can be difficult if you cannot hear the voice to recognise who is saying what. However, any variation to this can be included as per a customer's specific needs and requirements. In some circumstances the names of the speakers may be confidential and in these cases we would normally use colour coding to differentiate the different speakers by simply usig Sp1, Sp2, Sp3 etc.

If individual speakers do need to be identified, we need a list of speakers names and the order in which they speak. Otherwise, it will be impossible to identify accurately all the individuals, especially as we probably haven't heard their voices before.

TRANSCRIPT LEGEND

To aid our customers and help them understand our work we provide a Transcript legend with each document explaining our verbatim transcription system. If requested each speaker will be identified according to the legend. Audio time markers will be entered into the transcript to highlight any words that are unclear or inaudible so you can forward find and listen to that exact moment in the recording.

Each customer is individual and at Isabel's Typing Services we like to listen equally well to our customers as we do your digital recordings. We aim to provide a fast, friendly and affordable transcription service where the needs of our customers come first and are always met. If you have any questions about or verbatim transcription or have a special request, then please do not hesitate to contact us on +44 (0) 141 416 2233 or via our Contact Us page.