NOTE-TAKING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES IN INTERPRETING

  Interpreting is a complicated form of oral translation which is based on short term memory. Consecutive interpreting is one of the modes of interpreting which uses notes to help the memory to restore more information. Therefore, unlike simultaneously interpreting where there is no scope for taking notes, consecutive interpreting notes play a vital role for recalling the information.

Note-taking is an important skill in interpreting studies. To facilitate the process of consecutive interpreting, professional interpreters typically use a special system of note-taking. In the approaches developed on the basis of practical interpreting experience, these notations are regarded as a note-taking technique which is more common for interpreters to develop their own note-taking systems based on their own experience and needs.

Note-taking and memory, closely related to interpretation training, have been regarded as two important skills for consecutive interpretation.This process has been built as an image of ‘a necessary helper’ in consecutive interpretation which paves the way for further study about it.

Notes in consecutive interpretation:

 The notes in consecutive interpretation _also called pen-recording_ refer to the notes taken down in the form of original remarks by the speaker used at once and for one-time, involving the shift between meaning and two languages which record the intention, feeling of the speaker. It is supposed to select what is being said and render only what will matter to the message recipients. 

Memory in consecutive interpretation:

1. Types and processes of memory:

 According to psychology, memory is the retention of, and ability to recall, information, personal experiences, and procedures (skills and habits). Basically, it can be divided into: sensory storage, short-term memory and long-term memory. 

Memory includes three phases: encoding, retention and retrieval. Encoding is the processing of physical sensory input into one's memory which is considered the first of three steps in memory information processing; The factors that influence the result of retention are related to the degree of vividness of the materials psychologically, imagery factor that plays an important role in mankind’s 179 memories and brains, depth of information processing cognitively; The crucial process in remembering is retrieval, without which we could not access our memories. Psychologically, there are two means to retrieve information: recalling and recognizing. Besides, forgetting accompanies memory nearly at any time which is defined as the loss of information over time. Although three types of memories participate into the process of interpretation, in most cases, the interpreter is unconscious of the sensory stores, paying attention only to the short and long-term memories. In interpretation the short-term memory is the bridge between sensory stores and long-term memory, and can be adaptable in its capacity and encoding rules. Therefore, the typical memorizing modes employed in interpretation are some kind combination of the special types of memories rather than the traditional short and long-term memories.

Note-taking and memory

• Note-taking and encoding 

The encoding process of memory in interpretation corresponds to the hearing and comprehension of the interpreter. Meanwhile, note-taking projects are a part of the comprehension process.. For example ‘I am glad to’ can be visually encoded smiling face in notes, the speaker’s expression of his emotion can be encoded in the memory system and reflected in the notes.Therefore, the interaction among encoding, comprehension and note-taking proves that note-taking’s role in encoding is a memorizing process.

• Note-taking and retention 

In order to save energy and time, the interpreter usually borrows or invents his own system of signs to express the meaning contained in the speech. Those signs and marks of various shapes are the very external representatives of the internal imagery. In fact, note-taking can help improve the effects of retention in the way that it initiates the visualization of the information. The effects of retention have something to do with the depth of processing.

• Note-taking and retrieval

 Memory retrieval which includes such two ways as recalling and recognition is the only way a memory can be measured. In interpretation, recalling refers to the retrieval of stored information when the scene or real clues are presented here while recognition mainly refers to the automatic recalling that deals with the retrieval of the vocabulary and grammatical rules of the two languages as well as the effortful recalling which is targeted at the retrieval of the code-switching for some words and expressions in target language, even in the process of content retrieval. Good notes help the interpreter retrieve the main content and some key words, pick up the emotion and paralanguage expressed by the speaker.

Some Useful Principles in Note-taking

1. Rozan’s seven basic principles: Jean-Francois Rozan (1956, see Phelan, 2001, p.10) put together some ideas to help interpreters with the task of note-taking in his book La prise de notes en consécutive. Rozan established seven basic principles which are still useful today: 

         1. Note the idea rather than the exact words used. 

         2. Abbreviate long words by noting the first two and the last two letters only. Alternatively, find a short word with the same meaning. 

         3. Abbreviations of linking words are important:

         as, why           to mean because, as, given that, for this reason 

         tho                  although, despite 

         but                  however, nevertheless 

         if                     supposing

         as to               as regards, regarding, concerning 

         ths                  thus, in other words, to conclude, in conclusion

         4. Negation:

         OK                  to approve

         no OK             to disapprove 

         5. Underlying to stress importance or significance

         int                   interesting

         int                   very interesting

         ?                     an important question 

         6. Work down the page. Group ideas intelligently. Use a line to separate ideas. Number pages to avoid confusion. Cross off each section as you interpret it. 

         7. Symbols ( symbols of expression, symbols of movement, symbols of correspondence...) 

2. Practical hints from some veteran interpreters: 

 1. Write as few words or symbols as possible. An interpreter should always concentrate on listening (for comprehension and transference). And, limited by the very little time at his or her disposal, the interpreter must practice the maxim of “economy in words” while taking notes. As a rule, the interpreter’s notes should be of such a type that each word or symbol usually represents a “key word” or a “sense group” or an important formulation, etc., leaving an appropriate space between two words or symbols so written. In short, the words or symbols so written should preferably be reduced to the minimum in number.

 2. Better take notes in the target language. Most interpreters take notes in the target language rather than the source language as this approach saves time and effort when the time comes to deliver the interpretation. This approach also helps the interpreter to make a conscious effort to move away from the structures and expressions of the source language. Of course, there are also exceptions. When some expressions or phrases can be much more easily and briefly noted in one language other than the target language, it is not uncommon to find notes that are taken down with a mixture of the target language and the source language. Some notes also use many “neutral codes” (symbols that are used by both the target language and the source language), as their meanings are easier to be transferred both in the source language and the target language. Sometimes when we come across words which we do not understand or know its translation at the time of note-taking, we may jot them down in the source language and consider translating them later. Regardless of all these exceptions, generally speaking it is better to take notes in the target language, which will help solve the problems of translation as quickly as possible.

 3. See to it that the notes are logical and legible. As far as possible, the interpreter should be able to make a logical analysis of the speech that is being made and to take notes accordingly. In this way, the speaker’s flow or sequence of ideas can be better grasped and noted and therefore better interpreted. At the same time, the interpreter must see to it that the notes are legible. They must be easy to read, for the interpreter cannot afford the time to hesitate or meditate before deciphering them.

 4. Note-taking in interpreting should not take the form of shorthand. This is because a time-consuming process of deciphering is needed if all the notes are taken in shorthand codes. Even the most experienced stenographer cannot be as quick and accurate as an interpreter when they decipher their own notes. Therefore, note-taking in consecutive interpreting had better use more words, which can be directly recognized. However, a small number of symbols are also useful. Some interpreters even create new symbols which are only known to themselves to help take notes more quickly. However, the principle of creating new symbols is that they should represent words or concepts that appear frequently. Once the symbols are created, the interpreter should practice using them repeatedly. Only when the interpreter may make quick responses to them can they be used in note-taking. In short, the interpreter should only use symbols which represent words or concepts that appear frequently and whose meanings he or she is very familiar with. Symbols can only serve as supplements; it can never take the place of words in note-taking.

 5. Memory is expected to work simultaneously with note-taking. As noted earlier, note-taking is used to supplement memory efficiency. We can trust our notes no more than our memory. Accuracy in interpreting is only possible when we combine the two skills together. The process of note-taking should be accompanied by memory. Note-taking is not to interfere in memory.

 

specific note-taking choices:

_choice of form: Interpreters make choices on the form of notes: whether to take notes in symbol or language, and if in language, whether to write the word in full or to abbreviate it. Compared to language, symbols are easy to write and read, and can help avoid source language influence because they represent concepts rather than specific words (Gillies, 2005, p. 99).

_choice of language: The choice of language is perhaps the most controversial variable in note taking literature. Traditionally, the categories used to discuss this choice are source and target language.  Source language is suggested based on the belief that interpreters can “minimize their effort and save capacity” (Szabó, 2006, p. 131) during the listening phase under great time pressure. However, target language is recommended because the authors believe it makes the target speech production phase less effortful, and facilitates better processing of the source speech.

tips on note taking: here are some measures suggested by professional interpreters:

_note the idea, not isolated words.

_take notes quickly and don’t wait for the right word to resume time. 

_jot down words that are easy to understand in order to jog the memory when rendering the speech.

_write only on one side of the page.

_use a pencil.

_jot down readable notes to not waste time searching for the idea.

_use a large letter size that can easily be read from afar.

_use existing symbols and never invent symbols during speech that are not easily recognisable.

   

Note-taking in consecutive interpreting contains a lot of paradoxes: It is both necessary and evil; both individual and principled; both helpful and obstructive to memory, etc. Some people regard note-taking in consecutive interpreting as unfathomable, while others think it has some kind of system. In the present author’s opinion, both arguments are reasonable but only partially correct. It is unfathomable, for it is highly individual in character and formed by one’s own traits of thinking and writing system. It has some kind of system, because it still follows some principles and one can form one’s own fixed system of note-taking.