An Analysis on Note-taking in Interpreting

Acknowledgement

I would like to take this opportunity to show my heartfelt gratitude to those who have offered me all kinds of help in accomplishing this graduation paper.
First of all, I owe great indebtedness to my supervisor, Ms Guan Jie, who has helped me throughout the development and revision of this paper. She has patiently read several drafts of my paper. In addition, her insightful and constructive suggestions have contributed a great deal to my paper. Without her guidance and encouragement, I could not have accomplished this paper on time.
Besides, my special thanks also go to my parents. They have helped me a lot with my study in Yangzhou during the past years. Without their concern and support, I could never have completed the paper smoothly
Contents

Acknowledgement 1
Abstract in English 3
Abstract in Chinese 4
Chapter 1 Introduction and Overview 5
Chapter 2 The Concept and Necessity of Note-taking in Interpreting 6
Chapter 3 The Principle and Contents of Note-taking in Interpreting 7
Chapter 4 The Symbols of Note-taking in Interpreting 8
4.1 Letters 8
4.2 Drawings 8
4.3 Mathematical Signs 8
4.4 Abbreviations 9
4.5 Self-created Signs 9
Chapter 5 The Training of Note-taking in Interpreting 10
5.1 Quick Search Stage of Key Information 10
5.2 Proficient Memory Stage of Note Symbols 10
5.3 Consolidation and Improvement Stage of Notes 10
Chapter 6 Conclusion 11
Reference 12

Abstract

Interpreting is a highly immediate translation practice．To be a qualified interpreter，you need to have a good bilingual ability，rich knowledge as well as some relevant skills. The scene of interpretation is very complicated, so interpreters often can not successfully complete the task of interpretation only by memory of. They have to rely on the help of taking some notes. Therefore, note-taking is of essential importance in interpreting and it is very important in interpreting practice. This paper summarizes five kinds of note-taking symbols commonly used and illustrates each one by one. Besides, this paper puts forward practical training methods of note-taking.

Key Words: Interpreting Note-taking Symbol

摘 要

口譯作為一種即時性很強的特殊翻譯活動，除了要求譯者在宏觀上具有較強的雙語能力、豐富的文化背景知識外，還要求譯者具備相應的技能。口譯的現場性非常強，譯員單憑自身大腦的記憶往往不能順利地完成口譯任務，必須借助筆記的幫助。筆記作為口譯的一個重要方面，在口譯實踐中發揮著舉足輕重的作用。本文也歸納了5類常用的筆記符號，并逐一進行了例證，同時，提出了切實可行的筆記訓練方式。

關鍵詞：口譯 筆記 符號

Chapter 1 Introduction and Overview

Interpretation is a kind of linguistic symbol through listening to and analyzing the information expressed in the source language, which can be translated into the target language to achieve the verbal communication activities. Although, it is also a branch of translation, interpretation is very different from the written translation. It is extemporaneous and also is on the site. It is not only a sense of verbal behavior, but also a kind of communicative behavior relating to many levels of knowledge with extemporaneousness, comprehension and so on. As a highly specialized profession, interpretation is an operational activity of comprehensive language integrating the abilities of listening, speaking, reading and writing. It is a kind of three-dimensional and alternate activity of information dissemination.#p#分頁標題#e#

Chapter 2 The Concept and Necessity of Note-taking
in Interpreting
Note-taking in interpreting is a method of notes. Interpreters will use simple symbols, characters and so on to quickly note the key contents of the speech and other information within a short period of time. It applies to both Chinese and English. Unlike the shorthand, it only requires to note the key points of the information and logical structures of language. It reflects the logical relation between sentences by symbols, characters, slashes, as well as hyphens and so on. The note, the carrier of memory, has the nature of personality and temporary preservation, but it is not the text of information. The role of the note is that it helps interpreters to concentrate on their note-taking and give cues when they do the interpreting.
The success of interpretation depends largely on the ability of interpreters to record the perceptive information. Records are divided into "memory" and "notes". Memory consists of short-term memory and long-term memory. Here the memory mentioned in interpretation is mainly short-term memory, but in fact, a person's short-term memory is limited. According to a test by China's psychologists, a person can remember a maximum of six or seven words of non-coherent meaning or a set of 10-digit numbers at a time, or, at most, it can catch a sentence composed of about 20 words of coherent meaning. Therefore, people can not deal with interpretation with large amount of information. Interpreters may rely on the notes when they encounter the following situations or speech: meetings, negotiations, lectures, court hearings and press conferences. They highly demand for perfection and accuracy in consecutive interpretation and other occasions: large amounts of parallel contents in the speech, or a string of personal names, place names, numbers, years and terms and so forth.

Chapter 3 The Principle and Contents of Note-taking
in Interpreting
Both memory and note-taking are necessary to interpreters. Interpreters should focus on grasping main points. When they listen, they mainly rely on memory and take some notes for supplementation.
"Note-taking in interpreting is quite different from the detailed notes in classes or the word for word in shorthand. It varies from person to person, but it should be legible. It is better to use some common symbols." When they take notes, the principles are as follows: the function of notes is to help recall and reduce the burden of memory, and to analyze the results. Conceptual information should be noted in drawings. However, the logical information shows its context with paragraphs, lines and symbols. In addition, the note symbols should be clear and simple so that they can be connected to the words. Note-taking is an assisting tool for interpretation. It is not the main body of interpretation. Therefore, interpreters should pay attention to the speakers’ facial expressions, gestures, and other information when they take notes.#p#分頁標題#e#
The process of interpretation is an impromptu delivery of the overall meaning of the text. Thus, the function of notes is to point out the difficulties, and it can support short-term memory and avoid oblivion and loss. In addition, it also has the function of logical analysis and preservation, so that interpreters can organize paragraphs of the text clearly and save some time. If the notes are taken well, interpreters can use them freely and give a good play on the site. Then the notes they made can even make up for the deficiencies in other skills to some extent. Note-taking in interpreting acts as the support for memory and it is not advisable to take notes word for word. Generally speaking, the time for interpretation is very short during the listening process. Interpreters should focus on key points, such as attitudes, viewpoints, plan, time, places and specialized terms and so on. The key words will give hints to the interpreters about the meaning expressed by the speakers, and then, they can master the causes and consequences of the contents and the logical relations of the context.

Chapter 4 The Symbols of Note-taking in Interpreting

In order to quickly note the key contents in the limited time, interpreters can use some symbols to support their memory. The following symbols are for your reference:

4.1 Letters
There are many advantages to take letters as symbols, because there are many letters in English. They are different in writing, so they can represent different meanings. Like Latin letters, they have different writings and they can be used to imply different meanings. All the 26 English letters can be used as the symbols of notes.
"B" can be expressed as the meaning of "but", etc.
"C" can stand for "century" and other words, etc.
"P" can represent "politics, political parties and political power", etc.
"V" can mean "victory and success", etc.
"Z" can be referred to the "the tortuous road", etc.

4.2 Drawings
When taking notes, some pictorial symbols can make notes. They look so clear that they can be easily remembered. For example:
"○" can be represented as "entirety and completeness", etc.
"↑" can be said as "increase, improve and add", etc.
"☆" can mean "highlights, main points, think highly of", etc.
"△" can be referred to "peak, vertex and leadership", etc.
"*" can be expressed as "feature, characteristics and represent", etc.

4.3 Mathematical Signs
Mathematical symbols, such as "+"、"一"、"X"、"÷" and "=" and so on, are simple and accurate. They are ideal signs for note-taking. For example:
"+" can be expressed as "and, add, together with”, etc. #p#分頁標題#e#
"X" can represent the negative meaning, such as "error, no, not, oppose" and so on.
">" can be said as "greater than, more than, superior to", etc.
"√" can be referred to positive meaning, such as "correct, consent, good", etc.
"∵" can mean "because, due to, thanks", etc.

4.4 Abbreviations
A large number of commonly used English words in notes can be used in the form of their abbreviations. For example:
"TX" refers to "tax", "taxation".
"Ed" refers to "education".
"Co" refers to "company".
"Al" refers to "although".
"Tr" refers to "trade".

4.5 Self-created Signs
In practice, interpreters can create the symbols which suit their personal use according to their pronunciation and shape features. For example:
"?" stands for "trials, doubts".
"3R" stands for "three representatives".
"SZ" stands for "special zone".
"!" stands for "caution, pay attention"


Chapter 5 The Training of Note-taking in Interpreting

The training of note-taking skills should be separated from the training of other skills, that is to say, when you take the training of notes, you should just concentrate on practicing the techniques of notes rather than being distracted by interpretation. At the same time, the training of interpreting symbols should be divided from the memory training and listening training. In practice, the training can take the following steps:

5.1 Quick Search Stage of Key Information
Some data indicate that the average rate is about 150 words per minute. If a person continues to speak for two minutes, interpreters will receive the information of nearly 300 words, and it is obvious that it’s impossible to note all the information points clearly. Therefore, it is essential to quickly find out the key information before practicing the interpreting notes. At the beginning of training, you can listen to the material sentence by sentence to find the key points, and then, according to them, you can try to repeat the whole sentence. Secondly, you can go on in paragraphs and you should record the key messages of each section and repeat them paragraph by paragraph. Finally, you can listen to the whole passage. You should list the key points of the whole passage and repeat them.

5.2 Proficient Memory Stage of Note Symbols
After the dramatic improvement of the speed in searching the key information, what you should do next is to use the simple symbols to express the information. During the proficient memory stage of note symbols, you should be specific to a set of representative materials to do the repeated practice and master the majority of the practical note symbols. You should use a lot of letter symbols, pictorial symbols, mathematical symbols and self-created symbols instead of the key points.#p#分頁標題#e#

5.3 Consolidation and Improvement Stage of Notes
After getting familiar with the commonly used note symbols, you can take a great deal of exercises to consolidate the note system, and try a variety of subjects as well as the note practice at a higher difficult level. You can gain the skills to deal with different special circumstances.

Chapter 6 Conclusion

Note-taking in interpreting acts as the means for supplementary memory. It should focus on key information. Note-taking in interpreting varies from person to person. However, there are still some rules to follow, and it has strong individuality. Through a long period of repeated practice with fully grasping proficient and basic skills, each interpreter can find the most suitable and diversified way with individual characteristics of note-taking. Note-taking plays a vital role in interpreting. Interpreters should constantly improve the bilingual ability in practice and expand their own knowledge structures. Meanwhile, they should continuously strengthen the training of their own interpreting skills. The notes of interpreters should mainly focus on their own practice and constant review. Then they can develop a set of note-taking systems suited to them so as to serve the work of interpreting better.

Reference
[1] He Gangqing: Art and Craft of Translation (Fudan University Press, September, 2003)
[2] Hou Guojin: Queen of Interpreters (Dalian University of Technology Press, July, 2003)
[3] Wu Zhongming: English Interpretation (Wuhan University Press, August, 2008)
[4] Zhong Weihe: A Coursebook of Interpreting Between English and Chinese (Higher Education
Press, June, 2006)
[5] Mei Deming: An Intermediate Course of Interpretation (Shanghai Foreign Language
Education Press, August, 2008)
[6] Ji Lisi: Note-taking for Consecutive Interpreting: A Shot Course (Shanghai Foreign Language
Education Press, October, 2009)