Linguistic Analysis of Note-taking Strategies in Consecutive Interpretation Based on Saussure’s Structuralism
Abstract
Note-taking is simultaneously a key feature and a widely used tool in consecutive interpretation. Based on Saussure’s Structuralist Linguistics, this essay attempts to evaluate current studies and strategies of CI note-taking and generate further understanding of note-taking procedure from a linguistic perspective. It is interested in three key aspects: theoretical explanation of the course of note-taking, theoretical analysis of current note-taking methods, and developing criteria for note-taking effectiveness. By correlating and analyzing Saussure’s theory and note-taking studies, this essay will approach these aspects in the following sections. It develops three continua to identify the key aspects of different note-taking strategies: the diversity of symbols, the length and number of words, and the preference for either words or symbols. The conclusion suggests that all CI note-taking strategies are fundamental variations of the distribution of two key resources, cognitive load and time, to achieve two objectives: to serve as auxiliary memory and language reminder. The three continua represent two basic features of notes: volume and language dependency. Despite different focuses on various strategies, practitioners are suggested to adopt a method suitable for their specific capabilities.
References
- Chen, S. (2016) Note taking in consecutive interpreting: A review with special focus on Chinese and English literature. The Journal of Specialised Translation, 26(1), 151-171.
- Kirchhoff, H. (1979) “Die notationssprache als hilfsmittel des konferenzdolmetschers im konsekutivvorgang.” Walter Mair and Edgar Sallager (eds). Sprachtheorie und Sprachpraxis. Tübingen: Gunter Narr, 121-133.
- Gile, D. (2009) Basic Concepts and Models for Interpreter and Translator Training. Revised Edition. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
- De Saussure, F. (2011) Course in general linguistics: Translated by wade baskin. edited by perry meisel and haun saussy.
- Pöchhacker, F. (2022). Introducing interpreting studies. Routledge.
- Han, Z. (2002) “The function of note-taking in interpreting.” Chinese Science and Technology Translators Journal 15(2), 25-26, 33.
- Rozan, J. (2002) Note-taking in consecutive interpreting. (Andrew Gillies, Trans. Vol. 3). Cracow: Tertium Society for the Promotion of Language Studies.
- Cardoen, H. (2012) The effect of note-taking on target-text fluency. González Núñez, Gabriel; Yasmine Khaled & Tanya Voinova (eds.).
- Matyssek, H. (1989) Handbuch der Notizentechnik für Dolmetscher. Heidelberg: Julius Groos.
- Gillies, A. (2005) Note-taking for Consecutive Interpreting: A Short Course. Manchester: St. Jerome
- Ahrens, B. and Orlando, M. (2021) November. Note-taking for consecutive conference interpreting. In The Routledge handbook of conference interpreting (pp. 34-48). Routledge.
- Ilg, G. and Lambert, S. (1996) Teaching consecutive interpreting. Interpreting, 1(1), pp.69-99.
- Nai, R. (2020) March. Study on “Deverbalization” in Teaching Note-Taking in Consecutive Interpretation. In 4th International Conference on Culture, Education and Economic Development of Modern Society (ICCESE 2020) (pp. 1093-1097). Atlantis Press.