Here at Transcription City, we complete a range of subtitling services, translation services, transcription services and typing services to suit your individual needs and requirements.
With that in mind, we thought we’d take a look at some of the work our transcriptionists/translators get up to in an average day.
Diary of a Transcriptionist and Translator – And today we are learning about…
It is not the first time I have said this, but the surprise element in this job is what really makes it. It really do never know in the mornings, what kind of job may come my way. What kind of subject I may transcribe or translate or even who I might be listening to. It is really astonishing what kind of subject matters come my way and over the years I have learned intricate details of things, innovations, topics, illnesses and technologies that I had never imagined in my wildest dreams. Or had not even heard of before in some cases.
That is so exciting! This month I had some pretty interesting jobs again. There was the German transcribing of an audio file. This was a recording of a guided tour in the Austrian Alps, where some tourists were invited to sample some of the ‘schnapps’ that they make in the region. This is what is known as ‘Obstler’ which is schnapps mainly made of fruit and which is a very distinctive tipple in these regions. And also very high in alcohol, as it can have an astonishing amount of up to 43% of alcohol. Yes, that is not a typo.
So in one morning I found out about how it is made and which stages it goes through during this process. And also that they use a certain type of pine cone, from a stone pine, that only grows at a certain altitude, high up in the mountains. It has to be picked at a certain date of the year as, the gentleman explained, otherwise it either makes the schnapps taste woody or it doesn’t get the beautiful colour. Who knew? I do now.
Then there is a journalist that is writing a book about a gentleman high up in the United Nations. There I get to hear about International crises and how they are being dealt with. Or who phones who if something needs sorting out, which countries are making trouble and quite literally who is in whose WhatsApp group. I mean, do you know how to behave during a meeting with officials from North Korea? It is mesmerising simply listening to this and learning about all the connections there. And of course keeping confidentiality about it all, that goes without saying.
It is like being a fly on a wall really and nobody really notices that you are there. I feel quite privileged to do this job and hope to see how it is continuing.
If you would like more information about our fast translation services, transcription services, subtitling services or typing services, why not get in touch today? We are available 7 days a week and always happy to help.
