Task 3: Voice to Text

Below is my direct copy of a story from my father’s childhood in which, they (him and his cousins) worked together to remove an animal from their vacation house.

I’m going to talk to you today about the chances and story my dad went through living in India so immigrant he moved here when he was 17 prior to that he spent four years in Singapore and the rest of his life and they were an upper-middle-class family which meant that they had a condo in Mumbai and a small beach house about 3 hours away back in the town my dad was by was becoming quite busy but the older towns were still rather small and quaint and filled with Wildlife One Summer they’re making their way out to the summerhouse to get it ready it’s my dad and look for five other cousins and my aunt and uncle my dad being the oldest of 11 and one of my other ends being the youngest at about 6 they spent the day cleaning the house shutters and getting everything ready that night see all crawl up to the second floor which is where they sleep and suddenly my aunt is complaining about a smell she saying how it smells like cat pee 3 all make fun of him and tell her that you said being a sissy because all she does is live in the city is being one of her first times coming up to the cabin later that night as they falling asleep might want Uncle start shrieking out that sounds like it’s been peed on his ass cuz it’s raining in here and they look up and suddenly their scripts what is urine coming down and landing on him and his bed all of them shriek and run downstairs as it running downstairs is hard to hear something up in the attic above them and then it’s quiet what’s a broken up my grandmother and a few others who are staying with them it becomes clear that there is in fact a panther who was opposed up my grandmother mentioned that that’s just not something we can have so they’re going to have to find a solution my dad being the oldest was tasked with that idea the next morning they climb up this big tree that’s attached to the house and they see if the cancer has been using it as a Gateway inside the little hole to the other is some phones feces and what looks to be other cushioning for a sleeping then too especially for the last 4-5 months this Panthers had a lovely home in their house that day oh my God can think of is to block the whole so they walk down to the river and they got a bunch of cutting which is a big bush with 6 it spikes kind of a big bramblebush because of the Dragon up the tree cover now a little prick holes and blood and they are stuff that whole area. Later that night that all down by fire eating dinner we all start to get quiet and they offered her instead my dad is up on watch that only hear something I could climb the tree knowing if the panther he readies himself with the weapon he has to choose who to shot then we can here’s the champ and then he’s here screaming at the panther is no caught in the brambles and is rolling around Pierce but it jumps out of the out of the hole in the ground it takes off my dad’s Washington pretty proud he goes to sleep and I have to go up to inspect the damage after it says she trashed the entire place they feel some more brambles in but thankfully the answer has not returned I just found that story one of those confusing ones because he was maybe 11 or 12 and he was tied with you if a nowadays when we have a cougar warning within a hundred kilometres are the differences are quite astounding 

• How does the text deviate from the conventions of written English?

This text lacks revision and clarity often provided by the text. For example, there is a long-winded, unconsciousness that flows through this text, doubling back and disregarding a steady line of plot often found in story writing. Additionally, this text lacks structure. Both within the sentences, as well as the layout. Many sentences are either run-ons, incomplete, or phrased incorrectly. There is no paragraph structure to acknowledge the change of idea or topic. All together this makes this text nothing short of illiterate, even before you account for the inaccuracies of the voice interpretation of words. Common errors such as synonyms, homophones and capitalization litre the text, as well as omissions, cause significant confusion. 

• What is “wrong” in the text? What is “right”?

Technically, there is quite a bit “wrong”, as aforementioned in regards to conversion. In this nearly 700-word story, there are few periods, misplaced and missing capitalizations, and an apparent absence of clarity. In terms of “right”, although it would require some re-reading and focus, the general story is conveyed, and it could be understood and used to support discussion. This passage is able to hold a clear beginning, middle and end, even without formalized structure.  

• What are the most common “mistakes” in the text and why do you consider them “mistakes”?

I believe the largest mistakes come from the voice-to-text features struggling with my accent, as well as non-english words. For example “Oh my god” and “Dragon” was not said, instead, it was the name of my cousin and a plant local to the area. Additionally, I believe the mistakes are just that as these devices have improved since they first debuted. I remember when these tools were first released, they would have barely been able to rewrite a sentence let alone nearly two paragraphs. I believe if I had stopped, and spent additional time treating this as a speech-to-text device I would have been able to stop these mistakes. 

• What if you had “scripted” the story? What difference might that have made?

This story would be represented by a similar amount of words, however, each word will bring a stronger purpose and identity to the story. The flow would be organized as to that of a reader, removing the imprint of spoken language from the writing. Personally, whilst I try in professional situations to have a fluent and concise speech, I often struggle, or at least when compared to my written output which focuses on interpreting the information and sharing it. I would have perhaps spent more time identifying people by names, creating a larger comprehension of the setting, and speaking more to the community, and the backstory of this area. Spent time building the intrigue in the setting. Orally, details can be forgotten or omitted due to the tone or engagement of the storyteller, however through text that is often lost. 

• In what ways does oral storytelling differ from written storytelling? 

Oral and written rely on a similar principle, to encapsulate an experience and share it with others. They differ in their method of delivery. Oral traditionally relies on engagement, voices, and instant connection to the topic. Written stories focus on building connections, enticing the reader to continue the investment. For example, the introduction to oral stories is often slow, as the listener is already eager to continue, many written stories begin quickly in hopes to capture the attention long enough for the reader to attach themselves.  Oral stories typically follow a cadence and methodology leaving the audience with a deeper understanding of a topic, a written story offers much to the interpretation, thus leaving the audience with an array of perspectives.