A Framework for Deciding How to Create and Evaluate Transcripts for Forensic and Other Purposes

Transcripts are used successfully in many areas of contemporary society. However, some uses transcripts show systemic problems, with significant negative consequences. The key to finding effective solutions these is determine which factors contribute most strongly the problems – may be different from those they commonly ascribed. This systematic review offers a conceptual framework for understanding nature general, and that transcript's reliability suitability purpose. It then demonstrates how can explain (mostly) successful use two domains: court proceedings linguistics research. Next, it examine problematic cases: forensic audio as evidence criminal trials, police interviews suspects. A crucial observation that, while common, understandable, focus on transcriber source transcripts, transcription actually complex process involving practitioners multiple roles, role not always important. Solving thus requires coordination range factors. analysis ends practical suggestions seek both reviewed, attention linguistic science needs play. conclusion amplifies recent calls consolidate dedicated field study within linguistics.