CBC Realtime Writing & Stenography Fundamentals 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'voice writing' and how does it differ from stenographic captioning?
- Voice writing uses a silenced mask and speech recognition software, while steno uses a keyboard machine (Correct answer)
- Voice writing involves speaking loudly into a standard microphone, while steno is done in complete silence
- Voice writing is used only for pre-recorded content, while steno is reserved for live broadcasts
- Voice writing requires no formal training, while steno requires professional certification
Correct answer: Voice writing uses a silenced mask and speech recognition software, while steno uses a keyboard machine
Voice writing captioners speak into a silencing mask with built-in speech recognition, while stenographic captioners encode speech using a steno keyboard machine.
Question 2: When a broadcast captioner encounters an unfamiliar proper noun during a live broadcast, what is the recommended best practice?
- Skip the name entirely and continue with surrounding context
- Write the best phonetic approximation and add the correct spelling to the dictionary before the next broadcast (Correct answer)
- Replace it with a common placeholder name to maintain caption flow
- Stop the caption feed momentarily to look up the correct spelling
Correct answer: Write the best phonetic approximation and add the correct spelling to the dictionary before the next broadcast
During live broadcast, captioners write the best available phonetic approximation, then perform dictionary maintenance afterward to add the correct entry for future use.
Question 3: What is the main purpose of 'pre-show preparation' in broadcast captioning?
- Warming up the steno machine's mechanical components before use
- Loading show-specific names, terms, and briefs into the CAT dictionary before going live (Correct answer)
- Reviewing FCC captioning regulations before each individual broadcast
- Testing internet connectivity for remote captioning delivery systems
Correct answer: Loading show-specific names, terms, and briefs into the CAT dictionary before going live
Pre-show preparation involves adding relevant proper nouns, technical terms, and targeted briefs into the CAT dictionary so realtime accuracy is maximized during the live broadcast.
Question 4: In realtime captioning, what accuracy rate do broadcast captioning standards typically require?
- 85% or higher
- 90% or higher
- 95% or higher
- 98% or higher (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 98% or higher
Broadcast captioning standards typically require 98% or higher accuracy, reflecting the FCC's expectations for equal access for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Question 5: What does the term 'untranslate' mean in CAT software?
- Text that has been manually deleted from an in-progress transcript
- A steno stroke the software cannot match to any dictionary entry, displaying raw steno symbols (Correct answer)
- A word that is automatically converted into another language by the software
- Captions that are displayed before the speaker has finished a sentence
Correct answer: A steno stroke the software cannot match to any dictionary entry, displaying raw steno symbols
An untranslate occurs when CAT software receives a steno outline that has no matching dictionary entry, causing raw steno characters to appear in the output instead of readable text.
Question 6: Which captioning delivery method is most commonly used for live broadcasts requiring minimal latency and high accuracy?
- Offline post-production captioning with frame-accurate timecodes
- Realtime stenographic captioning with a direct CAT-to-encoder feed (Correct answer)
- Automated speech recognition (ASR) reviewed by a human editor
- Pre-scripted caption display systems timed to the broadcast script
Correct answer: Realtime stenographic captioning with a direct CAT-to-encoder feed
Live broadcasts requiring minimal latency rely on realtime stenographic captioning with a direct feed from the CAT software to the broadcast encoder for the fastest, most accurate output.
Question 7: What practice most effectively helps broadcast captioners maintain and improve their steno speed over time?
- Reducing the number of briefs to keep writing more phonetically consistent
- Regular speed drills and dictation practice at speeds above their current comfort level (Correct answer)
- Using longer, more explicit steno outlines to reduce the chance of conflicts
- Taking extended breaks between captioning sessions to prevent repetitive strain
Correct answer: Regular speed drills and dictation practice at speeds above their current comfort level
Regularly practicing at speeds that exceed the captioner's current comfort level through structured speed drills and dictation is the proven method for building and sustaining stenographic speed.
CBC Realtime Writing & Stenography Fundamentals 3
What is 'voice writing' and how does it differ from stenographic captioning?