OSU Library Metadata: A Guideline to Best Practices: Transcript

Label: Transcript
Maps to Dublin Core Element Name:
Maps to MARC field (in World Cat): 5XX
Mandatory: Optional, but recommended
Repeatable: Yes
Qualifiers:
          Refinements: None
          Schemes: None

This is the full text of an item. Enter the full transcription for relatively brief handwritten documents (e.g., handwritten letter, diary entry) or longer oral history interviews or audio recordings.

1.  Transcribe written text exactly as it is written in the original document, following the writer’s use of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

a. For a misspelling of a word in a text document use the term [sic] after the misspelled word.
There is no space between the end of the misspelled word and the first square bracket.

b. If the word cannot be deciphered based on the context, do NOT make a guess as to what the
word could be. Instead, write down the letters that can be deciphered and input the term
[illegible] where they cannot be deciphered.

c. All additions added to the transcript should be done sparingly and for clarity. Proper use of
clarifications would, for example, include adding a page number when the original document is
unnumbered. Input any additions in square brackets [ ].

    2. Transcribe audio recordings omitting filler words (e.g., umm, ahh)

a. If part of the audio of an oral history interview is inaudible or to a reference that
can’t be verified or assumed, input the term [inaudible]. 

b. If transcribing an audio recording other than an oral history and part of the audio is
inaudible or to a reference that cannot be verified or assumed, input the term
[inaudible].

Notes:

Edited transcript from an audio recording (with uncertainty):
          In the Barony of [inaudible] there was a history of great feasts.

Special Collection and University Archives

•  There was a [illegible] dog running around the park.
• B[illegible]ning
•  [page 2]

I nearly fainted when I learned that Della was married I turned so pale that some of the boys ask me what the bad news was and when I learned that Millie was gon[sic] to[sic] it made me feele[sic] like I was being shot at by about 100 natives in fact I have not got control of my nerves yet.