Transcription vs Transliteration

Understanding the difference between representing sounds and converting scripts

Transcription

Definition
Represents the sounds of speech in written form. Focuses on pronunciation and phonetic accuracy.
Purpose
To show how words are pronounced, capturing actual speech sounds.
Examples
  • IPA: Hello → [həˈloʊ]
  • Thai: สวัสดี → [sa.wat.diː] (IPA)
  • Chinese: 你好 → [ni˨˩ xaʊ˨˩˦] (IPA with tones)
When to Use
  • Language learning and pronunciation practice
  • Linguistic research and phonetic analysis
  • Dictionaries showing pronunciation
  • Speech therapy and phonetics

Transliteration

Definition
Converts text from one script to another. Focuses on character mapping and script conversion.
Purpose
To represent text in a different writing system, preserving the original structure.
Examples
  • ISO 15919: क → ka (Devanagari to Latin)
  • Hunterian: क → ka (simplified)
  • Pinyin: 你好 → nǐ hǎo (Chinese to Latin)
When to Use
  • Converting scripts for typing or display
  • Official documents and place names
  • Academic papers and citations
  • When script conversion is needed

Key Differences

Transcription
  • Sound-based (represents pronunciation)
  • Uses phonetic symbols (IPA)
  • Captures actual speech
  • Shows how to pronounce
  • Can vary by dialect/accent
Transliteration
  • Character-based (converts script)
  • Uses letter mapping
  • Preserves written form
  • Shows how to write
  • Standardized mapping
View Transcription Systems →
Transcription vs Transliteration Guide...