Difficulties And Coping Strategies Of Note-taking In Consecutive Interpreting

Note-taking plays an important role in consecutive interpretation(CI)practice.Using symbols to record speech content helps interpreter trigger memory and recall logical structure of the source language and allows timely and complete target language production.However,if there’ are problems like over-reliance on notes,confusing note-taking system or information missing or inaccuracy,notes can no longer serve as a reminder,and probably affect listening comprehension,causing inaccurate comprehension of general idea or missing of key information.As a result,it would affect the performance of language production.In the past,research on note-taking was mostly prescriptive and empirical,with less emphasis on discovering the principle of note-taking and note-taking teaching.Some scholars have summarized general rules through personal practice,yet the notes are more with personal characteristics.Up to now,the research combining translation theory with specific notes still stays at an early stage.The Effort Model proposed by Daniel Gile(1995)includes two phases,namely,listening phase and reformulation phase.Note-taking is involved in both phases as an essential component.The Effort Model divides and defines multiple tasks during interpreting activity,allowing interpreters to understand and study efforts distribution and problems occurred,then to adopt appropriate strategies and coping skills.Gile especially emphasized the importance of notes in CI.If notes are taken simply and swiftly,it is capable to release limited energy to other tasks.In light of this,this paper takes the author’s interpreting practice as an example,basing on Gile’s Effort Model to explore solutions which can reduce the wrong way of note-taking,and effectively reduce the effort allocation for note-taking during CI.Chapter One includes task background,purpose and structure of the thesis.Chapter Two describes three process of interpreting practice which involves preparation for interpreting,interpreting practice and reflection after interpreting.Chapter Three mainly introduces the theoretical basis for this paper:Gile’s effort model.Chapter Four combines transcript and notes to conduct in detail analysis of note-taking problems in CI practice and propose corresponding strategies.Chapter Five summarizes the interpreting process,thoughts and limitations on corresponding strategies.This paper finally proposes coping strategies for these three types of note difficulties,including parallel texts and lecture material reading,terminology collecting in pre-interpreting stage,simplification of notes and abbreviations,and forming appropriate notes arrangement.