Note-taking skills

While it is essential for an interpreter to be able to use his/her short-term memory, it is highly important for him/her to be able to use notes to help remembering, especially when the input is longer than what the short-term memory can manage. For an interpreter, it cannot be stressed more that taking notes is only a means to supplement or enhance memory or to remind him/her of the received information. The act of taking notes should not take up too much of attention or effort.

Notes are highly individualized, created by each individual interpreter for personal use. For example, some interpreters think that the target language should be used in notes, that is to say, English for C-E interpreting and Chinese for E-C rendering, some find it more convenient to use the source language and still some prefer to use the combination of the two.

Yet some principles prove helpful to most interpreters. What should be taken down? Not everything but key words and logical links; But successful identification of key words and logical links needs thorough understanding and analysis

How to take notes? First of all, a logical analysis of the speech is indispensable, through which the organization of the speech is highlighted and the key sense groups are distinguished from relatively insignificant information. Exe.1

Secondly, as also shown in the above example, various symbols, abbreviations, arrows, punctuations marks are effectively used in addition to and in the place of words in order to save time. Eg.

symbols from the alphabet: y, m, d, US, K, G, 中，人，大，小， etc. punctuation marks: :, ?, !, …, etc. mathematical symbols: +, -,, =, ≈, ≠, ≤, ≥, ∵, ∴, ∑ other symbols: × ， √ ，￥， $ ，￡, & ， # ， ><, ∧, ∨, ⊙, //, □ symbols for emphasis: ☆, △,, Arrows: ↑, ↓, ←, →, ↖, ↗, ↙, ↘, abbreviations: BJ, SH, GZ, GD, SZ, IT, ICT, 4M, i.e., e.g., std, stu, eco, situ, edu, ref, hap, com, med, transitional: tho, if, but, to, so, due

Thirdly, it is easy for an interpreter to see the note if it is taken vertically. One sense group takes up a line and space should be used in such a way as to indicate the structural relations between different sense groups. Exe. 2

To sum up, why to take notes and how? We advise you to take notes when you are encountered by : 1.chunk of numbers, groups of ideas 2.Use notes to guide you.the objective is to deliver accurate and elegant target language

But, notes taking ≠ shorthand. Two reasons for not choosing short-hand: 1) slowing down the speed since it takes extra time for deciphering; 2) leading to word-for-word interpretation since notes are taken in SL without analysis

Some useful tips: 1.A combination of source language and target language! Abb ( Chinese abb, English abb, measure, organization, place, country and elements)is encouraged! 2.More lines, few words! 3.Linking words and logical order! 4.Notes are for prompt use instead of for others’ scrutiny; therefore, notes are judged by their effectiveness rather than appearance