Multiple Languages: Transcribing with Interpreters

Updated: 07/24/24

At this stage, Parrot only offers English transcription, and even if you are a polyglot, we do not expect you to transcribe in other languages. If you encounter this, there are some guidelines you must keep in mind:

• Only transcribe the English portion of the recording.
• Differentiate between the interpreter/translator’s personal words (introduction, a comment here and there, or asking something as themselves rather than in their capacity as interpreter) and the speaker/deponent/witness’s words.
• Transcribe what the interpreter/translator translates as if it is the witness saying it directly. The translation is legally the witness's statement or testimony. In other words, assign the English version of the speaker’s words to them, even though they come out of the translator’s mouth. Here is an example:

Audio:

John Vasquez:             Me llamo John.

Spanish Interpreter:     My name is John.

Transcript:

• Occasionally, the translator/interpreter will make a statement of their own, independent of the witness. Only in these cases, assign speech to the translator:

Foreign language in transcripts without interpreter

Attendees without interpreters may occasionally speak a few words in a foreign language during the deposition, even though the proceedings are primarily conducted in English. This may occur if the individual is not a native English speaker and uses filler phrases, maybe even swears, in their native language. In such instances, please use the <foreign-language> tag instead of transcribing the non-English speech.