Transcript Formats: Intelligent Verbatim vs Strict Verbatim

Transcript Divas can provide transcripts in a number of different formats.

Our standard transcription formats are Strict Verbatim and Intelligent Verbatim. However, we pride ourselves on our flexibility, and can readily use transcript formats and templates that are our client’s own – so if you want something a little bit special, do not hesitate to ask!

Strict Verbatim Transcription

Strict Verbatim (SV) is the format chosen for some academic work or ‘discourse analysis’. The transcript reflects all utterances, false starts, filler words (um, uh) and all slang, (gonna, kinda, sorta, coz). This type of transcript does take a larger investment of a typist’s time, and can be difficult to read and understand. In the main, researchers use it for very specific types of analysis.

SVEXAMPLE FILENAME: WS110010

[Start of recorded material]

Interviewer:     What do you think he was trying to get out there?

Respondent:    He, he wanted – he is trying to learn more about sw-swans, you know.

Interviewer:     Do know where he went?

Respondent:    Like, he went out into the wild, the wilderness. He, like, he learned their calls, and wallowed in th-the muck. Wow.

Interviewer:     What’s your opinion of him?

Respondent:    You know, some people call that dude crazy. I-I-I think he is misunderstood, man.

[End of recorded material]

Intelligent Verbatim

Intelligent Verbatim (IV) is Transcript Divas’ standard format. While we never summarise or paraphrase, the intent of an IV transcript is to ‘clean up’ the transcript by removing stutters, repetitions, filler words (um, er, huh), false starts and the like. The focus is on producing a readable, coherent transcript, while retaining the meaning of the discourse.

Intelligent Verbatim (also called Clever Verbatim or Transcripts Edited For Clarity) is by far our most popular format. It captures the meaning of what was said in an interview, conversation, meeting or discussion, and conveys all the information and nuance, but without the broken flow that accompanies SV. Courts and legal work use intelligent verbatim.

IVEXAMPLEFILENAME: WS110010

[Start of recorded material]

Interviewer:     What do you think he was trying to get out there?

Respondent:    He wanted to learn more about swans.

Interviewer:     Do you know where he went?

Respondent:    He went out into the wild, the wilderness. He learned their calls and wallowed in the muck. Wow.

Interviewer:     What’s your opinion of him?

Respondent:    You know, some people call that dude crazy. I think he is misunderstood, man.

[End of recorded material]