Non-English Speech

Standards for handling foreign language speech in English transcriptions.

Non-English Speech

Non-English speech should be timestamped in a similar fashion to inaudibles, incidents and guesses.

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Extended Foreign Language

Note that start and end timestamps should also be used if the speech lasts for more than 15 seconds:

Example: [Non-English speech 0:01:15

  • 0:01:34]
  • #

    Timestamping Interpreters

    Where speech is an exchange between interpreter and respondent, this should appear on its own line and not have entries for each individual speaker – in the same way as you would denote aside conversation or break in conversation, etc.

    As with any extended event that disrupts a transcript, please use start and end timestamps where foreign language is spoken for longer than 15 seconds without any transcribed speech.

    Example: [Non-English speech 0:03:33

  • 0:04:52]
  • #

    Speaker Identification

    • Sometimes the respondent can speak for themselves if their English is basic
    • It's best to mark the interpreter as Interpreter, allowing room for the respondent to be marked as such, should they speak in English
    • Single returns either side if the same person continues to speak after
    • Hard returns if there is a change of speaker after the incident

    Other Document Formatting Guidelines