Home > Transcription > To transcribe, a practice in itself
The purpose of this article is to give general information concerning the transcription of a teaching.
To transcribe a teaching is a deep practice, the purpose is to restore the very essence of the teaching. The transcriber will have to hide behind the words by avoid any personal interpretation, all attempt to extract what he believes to be necessary or use one word for another because it is easier or more sophisticated according to his culture. The words used during the teaching were chosen for a reason. To transcribe what is heard without changing anything if possible, to not hesitate to go back if necessary, in order to be more attentive.
A deep, attentive listening allows to fix the punctuation : the one that follows the teacher’s breathing and not the one formally recommended by any grammar book. If you doubt a word, a sentence, do not hesitate to show it by using color .
Concerning the sentences in Tibetan, Sanskrit ... transcribe as best you can in italic, by underlining them in color.
In a general way, it’s a matter of noting, transcribing everything to the word. Do no hesitate to take a break if you start getting too tired or you saturate. Typing speed in this practice doesn’t matter.
However, sounds, gestures, interruptions which have nothing to do with the teaching are not to be mentioned in the transcription. Neither the « euh », nor the « hum », nor the blowing of the nose or the swallowing or a remark intended for someone in the audience with no link with the subject matter … nor the beginning of interrupted sentences ...
Times of prolonged silence may be noted….silence…. Same thing with laughs coming from the teacher of the audience…laughs…. If there are inaudible passages, mention them….inaudible…. All the words in a foreign language can be written in italic, except off course the words frequently used in the teaching, such as dharma, karma, samsara, lodjong, tonglen…..
The transcriber will verify the spelling of French words, it is not agreeable to read and have to correct a transcription filled with spelling mistakes.
It isn’t necessary to transcribe the refuge formula, the dedication of the seven verse prayer ... Indicate : Refuge. Bodhicitta. Seven Verse Prayer, Dedication, that’s enough.
Concerning the general presentation, lighten the text. One document for one transcript.
26/09/2013 : changes concerning the writing rules of the questions
For the questions :
Question :
Question...
For the answers :
Answers from Rinpoche :
Answer...
For another teaching :
Answer from Lama Soandso (or Name, surname) :
Answer...
— End of change
The transcriber has to follow a deadline of about two months to finish his work. One day or two for one teaching is enough. Do not try to do too much to the expense of the quality. Quality is more important than quantity.
It is best to preserve a certain dynamic for this type of work. The commitment of each one is important for the progression of the entire transcription.
If someone can’t continue with his work, the transcriber will inform the person who centralizes, in order to find a solution, using the contact form on the website, at the address mentioned as webcast-transcript.
For each recorded program, it will be mentioned LOOKING FOR TRANSCRIBERS or TRANSCRIPT IN PROGRESS is indicated.
To ask to write a transcript
Once the transcription is finished
IMPORTANT REMARK
The transcripts need to be written in any possible language, French, English, Italian, Spanish etc... There will be one transcriber per language if no bilingual (trilinguaI or more) wishes to transcribe more than one translations.
The rules of transcription are the same.