From: Miss Marple
Date: 3/5/03
Time: 10:36:31 AM
Remote Name: 164.77.149.135
Jasper,
It's true that we take it for granted that transcribers get it right. Small errors are not unusual, transcribers are people, but there is a difference when things are deliberately omitted or changed. Fuhrman for some reason leaves out or changes things in his version. There is always a reason for fuhrman to do his things.
One set of questions that stands out because it is quite a change is the dicussion about the cell phone.
Evidence dismissed: Simpson: ...The last thing I did before I left, when I was rushing was went and got my phone out of the Bronco. Lange: Mmm hmm. Simpson: [Or] whatever that is. Lange: Where's the phone now? Simpson: In my bag. Lange: Oh, you have it...? Simpson: Right in that black bag. Lange: You brought a bag with you here? Vanatter: Well, yeah, it's in my car. I left it in my car.
Fuhrman omits O.J's: "[Or] whatever that is". He also cuts short Vanatter's admitting that the black bag with the cell phone is in his car. Simply changes it to something O.J. says: "Yeah, it's..."
Thing is that uhrman must have sat there reading the transcript and for some reason he decided to make some changes. Which is harder than just copy a transcript.
I used to work as a translater and the most common mistake you do is where you place the commas. It can change the whole understanding of a sentence, especially in the English language.
One good example in the transcript where the placement of punctuation marks would change the the meaning of what was said and is actually one of O.J.:s most important answers, the one about the injury to his hand.
(fuhrman's version, a little shorter) O.J.:
I don't know. The first time, when I was in Chicago and all, but at the house I was just running around.
Move those punctuation marks around a little and the answer starts making sense:
I don't know the first time. When I was in Chicago and all, but at the house I was just running around.
I'm looking forward to the Ford book.
Miss Marple