The Language Planning and Development Office Hosts Transcription Workshop

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The University’s Language Planning and Development Office (ULDPO) recently hosted a Transcription Workshop at the Senate Chambers, on 14 November 2024. The reason behind the workshop was to acquire practical transcriptions skills, understand the role of transcription and network and collaborate with peers and professionals across language-related fields.

The ULPDO was established in 2013 as a strategic arm of the University Language Board (ULB) and is one of the three departments in the Division of Teaching and Learning.

The event was attended by individuals and language practitioners from many universities and departments; with, Mr Sibusiso Dlamini, lecturer at the Durban University of Technology and former translator in parliament and provincial legislature as the facilitator, and Ms Nomasiko Msomi as programme director. Dlamini taught participants the basics of transcription.

Mr Khumbulani Mngadi, ULPDO Acting Director said, ‘By attending this workshop, participants will acquire practical transcription skills, with a specific focus on African languages while also understanding the essential role of transcription in preserving and documenting languages. This workshop also aims to network and collaborate with peers and professionals across language-related fields.’ 

Dlamini extensively spoke and demonstrated on the topic of transcription, the dynamics of transcription, and what it requires from an individual. To give the audience a better understanding of the topic, he requested an attendee to transcribe a speech by a minister in parliament. The participant was given a timeframe, where she would listen to the speech and transcribe as fast as she could while listening. It gave the audience an understanding of transcription and what it requires.

‘Let’s say you’re in parliament and you’re transcribing for the minister or president, which would be a very important task, you don’t have time to edit or proofread. That’s where you need to be fast and where your writing/typing skills need to be at play,’ he said. He shone the spotlight on the uses of transcription from healthcare to law, collection of evidence by the police, and many other areas.

At the end of the workshop, Mr Njabulo Manyoni, a Language Practitioner from the ULPDO, gave a vote of thanks and some closing remarks to the participants.

Words: Nduduzo Duma

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini