Jewish family memory
How to transcribe a family interview
A transcript makes a recording easier to find and read, but it is a representation of the original. Preserve the recording and distinguish verbatim text, corrected text, translation, and summary.
By Pinkas · Updated September 28, 2026
A practical first step
Review names, dates, Hebrew and Yiddish words, and speaker changes against the audio. Mark unclear words and keep timestamps so another relative can check the passage.
An example to follow
Use '[unclear, 04:12]' instead of inventing a surname. An AI-generated paragraph should remain a draft until someone familiar with the recording reviews it.
Keep the record useful for the next relative
Save the original item or recording, the source of each claim, and the date you added the note. Label estimates and disputed details. Decide who should have access before inviting other people to help.