Using Talk-to-Text Technology in the Writing Center
/Using Talk-to-Text Technology in the Writing Center
by Kayla Smiley
Writing is a critical skill for the way humans communicate. Through the development of technology, the mediums of writing have evolved, from sticks and stones to feathers and ink, to typewriters and computers. Internet software development has given more people access to get their thoughts down on paper, or screen. Today dictating technology is available at our fingertips. Apple Dictation, Dragon Speech Recognition Solutions, Google Docs Voice Typing, and Windows 10 Speech Recognition are some of the top recognized software to date. Talk-to-text technology can be a beneficial tool to use in writing and writing centers, for it can save time, clarify thoughts, and capture an authentic voice.
In a writing center, it is common for students to come in and not know where to start. If that's the case, one of the best practices of getting the student to start is by asking them to describe their paper or thoughts off-script judgment-free, (Rafoth, 100). Using dictation software could capture what their brainstorming is in real-time. With their words right in front of them talking to text can be just the right channel that is direct from thoughts to words on paper. Since there is no second thought in between translation from talk-to-text, there is more authenticity to the student.
In her video, “Write an Essay,” Eleanor Josefina explains how talking to text saves her time. It is a tool that keeps her on track in school and frees up time for her busy modeling lifestyle (Josefina). This time-saving hack parallels the original idea being the Dictation Machine. A 1935 business article published the thought behind this technology as “an efficient means for the rapid exchange of written communications,” (Stowell). However, prior to committing to fully dictate an essay organization and planning are important steps to guide the flow of thoughts in speech.
A first draft can come from even the earliest thoughts. Since writers tend to speak faster than they can type, this should be quick. One thing you’ll quickly have to get used to is speaking grammatical punctuation, “period.” Revising in an essay written with dictation is different than how one would a typed essay. In complexity matters, the text paragraph after an original spoken word essay is wordy by sentence length. A writer and consultant would have to go through and reread and restructure the original words. For instance, some of the words spoken might not get picked up by the dictation processor, others might be complete run-ons that need condensing. This will include either speaking more clearly or hand typing the missed words and added punctuation. This outweighs going back as you go, a common practice for typing that often stops thoughts right in its tracks.
Talk-to-text diction is by no means new. Since the invention of smartphones and online writing processors, its resurgence can be used to help students and writing center coaches. As a current college student who balances school, athletics, and work, implementing the talk-to-text writing medium has captured my authentic voice and thoughts, all the while shortening my writing time.
Works CitedAntique Dictating Machines. Dictating machines. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2022, from https://www.officemuseum.com/dictating_machines.htm “Write an Essay in 30 MINUTES!! | Essay Writing Hacks.” YouTube, uploaded by Eleanor Josefina, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpB2wgK-HKc&t=3s Stowell, L. C. (1935). Why learn the operation of the dictating machine. Journal of Education for Business, 11(4), 13–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.1935.9958710