Verbatimtranskriptio

Verbatimtranskriptio is the Finnish term for verbatim transcription, a method used in linguistics, media studies, journalism, and legal contexts to reproduce spoken language exactly as it was spoken. In Finnish usage, the term emphasizes precision and the faithful reproduction of speech rather than a polished text. A verbatim transcript records every word, including fillers (uh, um), false starts, repetitions, interruptions, and overlaps, as well as significant pauses. Nonverbal cues and paralinguistic information may be indicated with bracketed annotations such as [laughter], [pause], or [inaudible].

Creating a verbatim transcript typically requires high-quality audio or video, clear speaker identification, and a consistent transcription convention. Many projects include time stamps, speaker labels, and notes on who is speaking. There are two common forms: strict verbatim, which preserves all speech features; and intelligent verbatim (also called clean verbatim or edited), which omits nonessential fillers while preserving meaning and structure.

Uses include academic research, qualitative interviews, courtroom or journalist transcripts, and accessibility services like captions. The approach ensures that the exact speech content is preserved but can be resource-intensive and may raise privacy concerns due to capturing precise form.

Limitations include the potential for misinterpretation of nonverbal cues, the burden of processing large data sets, and the need for rigorous anonymization and ethical approvals in some contexts.