Capturing Vernacular in Transcription
In transcription, the default standard is to capture the vernacular used by speakers. This means you will transcribe exactly what is said, whether grammatically incorrect or informal. Always transcribe vernacular unless explicitly instructed otherwise.
Vernacular vs. Non-Vernacular Examples
Speaker Says... | Vernacular Transcription | Non-Vernacular Transcription |
I'm gonna go home | I'm gonna go home | I'm going to go home |
I'm talkin' 'bout you | I'm talkin' 'bout you | I'm talking about you |
I went 'cause you told me | I went 'cause you told me | I went because you told me |
She dunno what to do | She dunno what to do | She does not know what to do |
Lemme check real quick | Lemme check real quick | Let me check real quick |
We gotta get goin’ | We gotta get goin’ | We have to get going |
Whatcha mean? | Whatcha mean? | What do you mean? |
They ain't comin’ | They ain't comin’ | They aren’t coming |
When "Non-Vernacular" is Requested
When instructed to provide non-vernacular transcription, do not fix common contractions like:
- Don’t, doesn’t, isn’t, aren’t, I’m (These remain unchanged)
However, you should expand more informal contractions, such as:
- D’you → Do you
- Imma → I am going to
- Lemme → Let me
- Hafta → Have to
- Gonna → Going to
- Gimme → Give me
Utterances Always Included in Transcription
Utterances such as "Uh-huh," "Mh-mmm," and "Uhm" should always be transcribed when they serve as affirmative or negative declarations. These are not subject to non-vernacular corrections and must be captured exactly as spoken.
Using Smart/Curly Quotes in Vernacular
When using smart/curly quotes to replace letters or numbers in vernacular, they should always face to the left (like contractions). Word does not automatically correct this when they appear at the beginning of a word.
Examples of Correct and Incorrect Usage:
Incorrect | Correct |
‘cause, ‘em | ’cause, ’em |
‘90s, 90’s, 90s, ‘90’s, ’90’s | ’90s (or '90s if using straight quotes throughout) |
Shortcut to Fix Curly Quotes in Word:
To ensure curly quotes face the correct way, use Control + apostrophe + apostrophe (Ctrl + ' + '). Alternatively, you can use all straight quotes in the entire file for consistency.
Important Note:
- "Cause" (without an apostrophe) is a different word than "’cause" (which is a contraction of "because"). Always use the correct form based on the speaker’s intent.
- Do not mix straight (') and smart (’ and ‘) quotes in the same file.
By following these guidelines, transcriptions will remain accurate and true to the speaker’s voice while maintaining clarity when necessary.