The Power of Memory Mapping and Note Taking in Interpreting

By: Suzan ShanFor: Interpreting 505 – Dr.Basil Hatim

There are three basic stages in the interpreters work:

Understanding

AnalyzingRe-expressing

Understanding

Active listening

Identifying ideas

Analyzing

Recognize type of speech

Spot the links

between ideas

Map an outline of main ideas

in your mind

Take notes of the main

outline

Re-expressin

g

Recall the speech basic

outline

Convey the main ideas

according to mind map and notes

Capture the spirit of the

speech

Why Note Taking?

Why..To relieve the memoryTo provide a skeleton outline of the

speech To help in visualizing concepts making

them easier to rememberTo trigger the interpreters’ memoryTo ensure completeness of

information – fill memory gaps

What to note?Main ideasLinks (relations) between ideasPoint of viewTense of actionNumbersDatesProper namesLists

How to

note:

Suggestions for a successful note taking strategy:

1- As the notes taken need to reflect the structure of the speech: one way is to reflect subject–verb-object structure in a diagonal axis which offers a natural movement of the eye helping the interpreter not to be influenced with the ST

2- In the previous method, a left hand margin can be kept to note the links and speaker (point of view)

3- lists can be notes vertically as the elements in the list have the same valueEX: western turkey has suffered a

series of natural catastrophes, violent winter storms, flooding and earthquakes

Each interpreter

should use his own

abbreviation system

4- a system of abbreviations can be developed to save time and increase efficiency

The system of abbreviations must

include a list for most frequent

country names

A list of major international

organizations

A list for the notions most

occurring in their field

5- Symbol system can be used to

replace:

Links

Points of view

Tenses

Modal verbs

Passive style

Examples on symbols

6- Underlining can be used to show

stress

The interpreter can make use of many other symbols available to him to make his life easier such as:

right

Conclusion

Keep your notes concise & clearNotes should be brief but reflect the

main outline of the speechDevelop a symbols and abbreviations

system that you can use anytimeDon’t waste too much time

contemplating on your notes

Thank you