tran-SKRIP-shuhn
/ˌtɹænsˈkɹɪpʃən/
transcription is pronounced tran-SKRIP-shuhn (/ˌtɹænsˈkɹɪpʃən/). Transcription refers to the process of converting spoken language into written text, or the act of creating a written record of speech. It also denotes a specific form of musical or linguistic notation. In linguistics, it can mean the systematic representation of sounds using symbols, such as phonetic transcription.
Transcription refers to the process of converting spoken language into written text, or the act of creating a written record of speech. It also denotes a specific form of musical or linguistic notation. In linguistics, it can mean the systematic representation of sounds using symbols, such as phonetic transcription.
"The linguistics class practiced phonetic transcription of tricky vowel sounds."
"The court reporter began transcription of the testimony as soon as the witness spoke."
"Medical transcriptionists convert physicians' notes into typed documents."
Pronounce it as trænˈskrɪp.ʃən in US English, with stress on the second syllable. The sequence includes a clear 'trans-' prefix, a 'skrip' root where the 'skr' is a cluster, and a final 'tion' pronounced as ʃən. You’ll want the thudding onset of ‘tr’ then the ‘asn’ glide into -skrip- and the unstressed -tion becomes -ʃən. IPA guide: US: trænsˈkrɪp.ʃən; UK: trɒnˈskrɪp.ʃən. Audio reference: listen to “transcription” in dictionaries or pronunciation guides to hear the stress shift and the /sk/ cluster.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing the primary stress. People sometimes say tranˈscrip- or transˈcript-ion; ensure stress on the second syllable: trænsˈkrɪp.ʃən. (2) Slurring the -skrip- cluster, leading to trənˈskrɪp.ʃən. Keep the /skr/ together with a light but precise release. Finally, don’t reduce the final -tion to a quick ’ən’ without the preceding /ʃ/; the correct sequence is -ʃən.
In US English, /trænsˈkrɪp.ʃən/ with a flatter vowel in /æ/ and clear /skr/ cluster. UK English tends to a more open /ɑː/ in the first syllable starter of ‘trans-’ and a slightly stronger t-sound; final -tion remains /ʃən/ but with subtle vowel quality variation. Australian tends toward /trænsˈkrɪp.ʃən/ similar to US but with a less pronounced rhoticity and perhaps a slightly higher vowel in /ɪ/ in /krɪp/. Listen to native samples for nuance.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster -skr- after the prefix and the syllable-timed rhythm that compresses the final -tion into /ʃən/. Achieving a crisp /skr/ without intrusion and correctly timing the secondary stress can be challenging. Also, the vowel in -tion often carries a reduced schwa that can blur in casual speech. Focusing on the sequence tr- + skrip + -ʃən helps stabilize pronunciation across contexts.
In transcription, the ending -tion is typically pronounced as /ʃən/ across most varieties (transˈkrɪp.ʃən). However, in rapid speech or certain dialects, the /ʃ/ may soften toward /s/ or no distinct release, yielding /ən/ or /ʃn/. The key is to maintain the /ʃ/ before the final schwa and not misplace the main stress. IPA: trænˈskrɪp.ʃən.
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- US: Keep rhoticity clear, but the focus is on the /æ/ vs /ɑ/ as in /træn/. The second syllable has /krɪp/; ensure the /r/ coloring is light but present. - UK: May favor a slightly broader /ɑː/ in the first syllable; keep the /ɪ/ in the second syllable crisp; still maintain /ʃən/ at the end. - AU: Similar to US but with less rhotic emphasis; ensure the final /ən/ is not overly clipped; preserve the /ʃ/ before schwa. IPA references: US trænsˈkrɪp.ʃən; UK trɑːnˈskrɪp.ʃən; AU trɔːnsˈkrɪp.ʃən (approximate).
Transcription comes from Latin transcriptio, from transcribere meaning to copy, write across. The root is trans-, meaning across or beyond, plus scribere, to write. The term entered English in the late 16th century with senses relating to copying or rendering text from one form to another, and later specialized in linguistics and music notation. The core development was the extension from simple copying to a formal system of representing sounds or speech sounds in a second medium—written script. Its usage broadened with fields like stenography, court reporting, translation studies, and linguistics, where precise representation of spoken language is essential. Modern use often refers to phonetic transcription in phonology, orthographic transcription in writing, or music transcription in converting performances into written scores. The word’s trajectory mirrors the growth of documentary practices and the need for faithful, analyzable representations of sound and speech across disciplines.
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Words that rhyme with "transcription"
-ion sounds
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