The Common Problems And Solutions Of Note-taking In Consecutive Interpreting—Practice Report On Conference Interpretation

Interpretation is an activity that translate the oral or text information into colloquial language, which requires a lot to interpreter in knowledge accumulate, language ability, responsive capability and etc. In real interpretation, note-taking plays an important or even irreplaceable role during the whole process, due to the characteristics of interpretation and cerebral information storing. Mainly as clues for recalling information and memory reinforces to help improve the quality of consecutive interpreting. Generally speaking, the amount of information in consecutive interpreting is large for interpreter, especially the emergence of technical terms and numbers would be a tough task for brain memory, and it is also a diversion to interpreter. If we can take advantage of the function of note-taking, we could focus on the process of interpreting, and the multiplier effect could be achieved. However, ample evidences have shown that note-taking, if not properly handled, will be one of the biggest interfering factors that divert the interpreter’s attention from comprehending the original message, and thus impact on the quality of interpreting performance.The author has various of problems in note-taking during interpreting training or practices, and there are four main problems:First, the author has no scientific methods of language choice in note-taking, and be inclined to take notes in Chinese. Second, the the author tries to note every single detail of the speech, and this behavior leads to miss much information because the author failed to keep pace with the speaker. Third, the author doesn’t be familiar with symbols and abbreviations, which make the pose while taking notes, fourth, the author couldn’t balance well between taking notes and listening. For no other reason than that, such problem make the note-taking the most weak part for the author, which is the part the author need to breakthrough at first. The author makes a summary of solutions at the conclusion on the basis of above problems: grasp the key points among source language, remember clearly the logic relationship among them and be familiar with some convenient and practical symbols and abbreviations wildly used. Meanwhile, create our own symbols, and adhere to the principle of putting brain memory first, regard note-taking as an assitant tool. As to some specific style of note-taking, every one may have his own habit. However, if only we keep practicing, finding problems in practice, putting theory in practice, and finding the solution in practice, we will master note-taking skills well. In September of 2011, the Symposium of International Leadership and Creativity between Hunan University and South African Stellenbosch University was held in Yuelu Academy, which is an activity belongs to20+20the cooperational project between universities in China and Africa. The author participated in this symposium as the interpreter to one team of all lecturers. This is a practical report. At first, the author describes the detail of preparation work before interpreting, including search and collection of relative references, sort of technical terms and etc. Then, the author analyses the problems of note-taking emerged in interpreting, combines with relative note-taking skills, and finds the solution to these problems to improve the quality of interpreting.The author finds solutions by analysing own problems of note-taking in interpreting, and makes progress in interpreting performance. The author wishes that this article could be a helper or enlightenment for beginners and students who have problems in note-taking of interpreting.