Recording Oral History Through Transcriptions

People have a lot of stories to tell, especially those fortunate enough to have been living witnesses to a historic event. As time passes, however, it becomes harder to get a tighter grip on these vital memories. To preserve their memories, transcribing them into paper has been one of the best practices. This helps archive precious memories, which can later be used by researchers and scholars. With these transcripts, other people can learn something new or something untold, with reliable sources providing a new perspective about the past.

Advantages of Transcriptions

Most researchers have long been accustomed to reading paper rather than viewing video documents or listening to audio recordings, hence transcriptions are very useful. Written documents are easier for them to go through and locate vital information. Furthermore, paper is one of the materials which could be used for preservation and future use.

Steps in Transcribing

Transcribing an interview involves more than just putting into paper the words that were said. It must be done in a way that makes them worthy of being archived, which could be achieved through several steps. First, a transcriber will render in writing what had been spoken word-for-word. The transcription will then be reviewed for accuracy. The narrator could also be consulted to ensure precision or, at times, redaction of certain points, then it will be edited for context and sense.