MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

BINH DUONG UNIVERSITY

BASIC INTERPRETATION
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TOPIC: WHY DO INTERPRETERS NEED TO TAKE GOOD

NOTES, USE SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS WHILE
PERFORMING THEIR INTERPRETING TASK? HOW ARE
NOTES AND SYMBOLS TAKEN AND/OR JOTTED DOWN?
JUSTIFY YOUR ARGUMENTS AND GIVE EXAMPLES TO
SUPPORT YOUR IDEAS.

Student’s name: Nguyen Thi Ngoc Nga

Student’s ID: 21010018
Class: 24AV01
Instructor: Nguyen Minh Trang
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1:
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................1
PART 2: BODY...................................................................................................2
I. Why do interpreters need to take good notes, use symbols and
abbreviations while performing their interpreting task?...........................2
1. Increase Translation Speed.................................................................2
2. Exact Meaning.....................................................................................2
3. Translation Homogenization...............................................................2
4. Information manage............................................................................2
II. How are notes and symbols taken and/or jotted down?.....................3
III. Justify your arguments and give examples to support your ideas.....4
1. Notes to Improve Translation Performance.......................................4
2. Increase Translation Speed and Reduce Translation Risk................4
3. Abbreviations Uniform Language Translation..................................4
PART 3: CONCLUSION...................................................................................5
PART 4: REFERENCES...................................................................................6
 INTRODUCTION
Interpretation plays a crucial role in facilitating understanding between
individuals, bridging language and cultural gaps, and ensuring effective
communication in diverse settings.
In the context of language, interpretation primarily involves the conversion of
spoken or signed language from one language to another. Interpretation is not
limited to linguistic translation; it also extends to the comprehension of non-
verbal forms of communication. In the realm of the arts, literature, and cultural
studies, interpretation involves understanding and explaining the meaning
behind symbols, metaphors, and artistic expressions. This multidimensional
aspect of interpretation highlights its significance in fostering cross-cultural
understanding, breaking down barriers, and promoting effective communication
in an increasingly interconnected world.
Overall, interpretation is a dynamic and essential process that contributes to
effective communication, cultural exchange, and the advancement of mutual
understanding among individuals and communities across diverse contexts.
So, in order to fully and accurately meet the content that needs to be translated,
what we cannot help but do is take note of important information and key points
of the problem. To understand more deeply about taking notes, let's learn about
it now!

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 BODY
I. Why do interpreters need to take good notes, use symbols and
abbreviations while performing their interpreting task?
Take notes not just for memorization and translation, interpreter notes are
written and used simultaneously. They are designed to assist interpreters in
remembering important elements of dialogue, such as numbers, names, and
places. Most uniquely, the interpreter's notes do not simply contain words, but
contain many symbols and visual images that show the relationships between
elements in a sentence or between people.
Here are some specific reasons:

1. Increase Translation Speed

Notes, symbols, and abbreviations help reduce text processing time, especially
in situations that require agility such as simultaneous interpreting.
For example: Using abbreviations for common phrases or symbols for basic
ideas can help reduce translation time.

2. Exact Meaning
Notes help the translator record the specific meaning of important terms or
contexts to ensure translation accuracy.
For example: Taking notes on terms, jargon, and related information helps
ensure that the translation accurately reflects the speaker's meaning.

3. Translation Homogenization
Using symbols and abbreviations helps maintain uniformity throughout the
translation and keeps the language used standardized.
For example: Uniform the use of abbreviations or symbols within the translation
community to avoid confusion.

4. Information manage
Notes are an important tool to help translators keep track of information, make
decisions, and explain important things during the translation process.
For example: Take notes about translation decisions, important changes, and
problems encountered for later documentation.

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 II. How are notes and symbols taken and/or jotted down?
How notes and symbols are obtained, as well as how notes are made, can
depend on each interpreter's preferences and working style. However, below are
some methods and practical examples:
- # : NUMBER
- - : MINUS, LESS
- + : MORE, ADD
- = : EQUAL
- ÷ : DIVIDED. SEPARATE
- < : LESS THAN
- > : MORE THAN
- x : TIMES
- ± : APPROXIMATELY
- ≠ : DIFFERENT
- $ : PAY, MONEY
- ₵ : CHANGE
- % : PERCENTAGE
- → : AFTER, TOMORROW, FUTURE
- ← : BEFORE, YESTERDAY, PAST
- ? : QUESTION
- ! : UPSET
- ↑ : UP
- ↓ : DOWN
- ♀ : WOMAN
- ♂ : MAN
- & : AND
- w/ : WITH
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 - W : WORK

III. Justify your arguments and give examples to support your ideas
My methodology revolves around the meaning and benefits of using notes,
symbols, and abbreviations in the task of translation. Below is part of the
discussion:

1. Notes to Improve Translation Performance

Notes are an important tool to help translators track and capture important
information during the translation process.
For example: When translating a medical speech, taking notes on medical terms
and contextual comments helps the translator maintain consistency throughout
the entire translation.

2. Increase Translation Speed and Reduce Translation Risk

Using symbols and abbreviations helps reduce translation time and the risk of
mistranslation.
For example: In legal translation, use the symbol "cf." to refer to "confer" helps
translators quickly convey the meaning of "consult" without losing accuracy.

3. Abbreviations Uniform Language Translation

Using abbreviations is an effective way to homogenize translated language and
keep translations consistent.
For example, converting "International Business Machines" to "IBM" doesn't
just reduce length.

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 CONCLUSION
The utilization of notes, symbols and abbreviations, during translation tasks
plays a role in enhancing efficiency and maintaining quality. Notes assist
translators in managing information providing explanations and keeping track
of translation decisions. Meanwhile symbols and abbreviations aid in reducing
translation time and promoting consistency while minimizing the chance of
mistranslations.
These practices not optimize the translation process. Also guarantee the
accuracy and coherence of the translated content. Considering our landscape
and the increasingly high demands placed on our work implementing these
measures becomes both vital and instrumental for success, in the field of
interpretation.

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 REFERENCES
https://phiendichtieng.com/ghi-chu-phien-dich-vien/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkgxxRvVdQQ