Transcript

A transcript is a written record of spoken language. In court proceedings, a transcript is usually a redord of all decisions of the judge, and the spoken arguments by the litigant's lawyers. The transcript is expected to be an exacact and unedited record of every spoken word, with a notation of the speaker who spoke it. Such a record was originally made by court stenographers who used a form of shorthand abbreviation to write as quickly as people spoke. Today a court reporter uses a specialized machine with a phonetic key system, typing a key or key combination for every sound a person utters.

Less formal courts have now begun to use a sound recording system. These less formal courts send recordings to court reporters only when a transcript is requested.