3.

Note-taking in Consecutive Interpreting

Note-taking is a secondary procedure in consecutive interpretation that comes after the three key
procedures (understanding, analysis, re-expression). It is an aid that helps improving interpreter’s
performance in the three main process. However, investing too much in note taking would result
in two risks. First, producing a transliteration of the original instead of re-expressing its ideas.
Second, paying more attention to notes and not genuinely understanding and analysis the speech
which would cause serious errors and non-coherent interpretation.
** The purpose of taking notes:
 Relieving memory => helps remembering speech content
 Jogging memory => helps remembering speech structure

Practical Points for Note-taking

 Notes should be taken quickly and upon something convenient to hold and easy to
handle. To keep order, interpreter should use note-pad instead of loose sheets of paper
and should write on the recto side only with a good old-fashioned pencil.
 Notes should be easily read and properly written in large characters.
 Notes should be well spread over the page with all different elements clearly
differentiated.
 Notes should be crystal clear with no ambiguity. Therefore, any symbols or
abbreviations used must be known, obvious, and not newly invented in the course.

What to Note
Notes should be logically related to the speech analysis and will include the following:
1. Main ideas to help drawing speech outline.
2. Links and separations between ideas to help moving logically from one idea to another.
3. The point of view being expressed.
4. The tenses of the verbs (‘what happened when’).
** Note: the previous elements should be kept in the memory of the interpreter but
written as an insurance policy.
5. Other elements: Numbers, Dates, Proper Names, Lists.

How to Note
 Diagonal Layout: concerned with noting main ideas according to subject-
verb-object analysis where SVO are separated and allocated at the same
position in any given section of notes.
 The Left-hand Margin: used for noting links and separations between
ideas and placed outside SVO form on the left-hand side.
 Verticality of Lists: lists are noted vertically wherever they occur in a
sentence.
 If I’ve Missed Something Out in My Notes: the interpreter will draw a
very large cross in the right-hand margin of the notes at the same level as
the missing part for reference.
Abbreviations and Symbols
Using abbreviations and symbols saves time and reduces the amount of words. Such symbols
should be ‘logical’ and ‘meaningful’ for the interpreter who may follow the minimalist or
maximalist approaches.

 Frequently Occurring Notions: repetitive notions in an interpreter’s work should have

abbreviations or symbols that are made using international codes, the first letter of the word,
or a mixture of both.
 Links: it is better to have very short forms for all links.
Examples: as => ‘because’ / but => ‘however’
 Tenses: three coding systems:
 Short words: ‘will’/‘has’ as signs
 Suffixes: ‘-ed’ => past / ‘–ll’ => future
 Symbolic: û => past / ë => future
 Modal verbs: two coding systems:
 Use the model verb itself as it tends to be short word
 Single simple symbol: ‘must’ => Δ
 Stress: noted by the system of underlining
 Important => underlining
 Extremely important => double underlining
 Fairly important => underlining with squiggly line.
 Comparatives and Superlatives: two coding systems:
 Suffixes: -er and –st
 Comparison (+), Superlative (++), Comparative (>)
 Arrows: very useful aid in a graphic system of note-taking
 ↑: increase & improvement
 ↓: decrease
 →: continues to be
 ↔: reciprocity
 (⇐, ⇔, ⇒): special meanings
 Suffixes:
 Standard suffixes: -ation, -ing or –ment
 Suffixes may be attached to symbols: (international: ¥) => internationalization: ¥n
 Parentheses:
 Parenthesis means “Be careful! There is other point to be made here”.
 Numbering: It is useful to number points to enhance the analysis of structure and to recall
the speech. Interpreter should follow the speaker’s numbering or may introduce his own
numbering in notes.

The Language in which to Note

 Noting in SL
 1) No translation needed while taking notes
2) Interpreter could rely on mastery of mother tongue
3) Noting specific concepts in SL is more efficient

 Noting in TL
1) Interpreter is obliged to interpretation mental processes
2) Noting in TL is slightly preferred because interpreter is processing while listening instead
of passively taking notes in SL which affects understanding the speech

 For clarity, it could be advised to choose one language or another. However, it is the
interpreter’s choice to use language A, language B, a combination of both, or a third
language.

When to Note
For consecutive interpreter, the priority is to start taking notes as quickly as possible to avoid
being left behind by the speaker and to deal with the great time pressure. This doesn’t mean
writing notes word for word or waiting for a complete sentence. The interpreter will wait until
the first word/ element of the speech fits grammatically into the context.

Related issues:
 Active & passive form: the interpreter may choose to note the sentence in both forms
 Subordinate or relative clauses: should be noted immediately as the speaker may go off
and never provide a main clause.

How to Read Back Notes

Interpreter should refer to the notes only to remember the next idea using the art of glancing
down these notes to avoid losing communication with audience. The interpreter will start with a
look at the notes then start speaking. As moving to the end of the first part, the interpreter will
have a glance down at the notes to read the next part. The interpreter, while still talking, is
already reading ahead and providing a smooth, uninterrupted and efficient interpretation.