Matters needing attention in reading notes

The success of interpretation depends largely on the interpreter's ability to record perceptual information before interpretation. Records are divided into "brain notes" and "notes".

The memory of human brain consists of short-term memory and long-term memory. As the name implies, short-term memory belongs to operational temporary memory, and long-term memory belongs to storage permanent memory. There are many factors that affect a person's short-term memory, among which the most important factor is the meaning of the memory content. Even if the perceived information is meaningful, people's short-term memory can only accommodate sentences consisting of more than 20 words or a group of ten digits. Therefore, it is very dangerous for interpreters to rely entirely on the memory ability of the human brain, so it is very important to take notes.

Matters needing attention in taking interpretation notes

1. Note the key points, not "all". Interpretation notes are an extension or supplement of memory, and should not and need not replace memory. The main contents of explanatory notes are concepts, propositions, names, numbers, organizational structure and logical relations (such as size, order, pros and cons, up and down, up and down, cause and effect, etc.). ), and the note unit is mainly the words and symbols that represent the meaning group.

2. Interpreting notes should be quickly refined and not scribbled.

3. Interpreting notes can be in source language, target language or both languages. As long as it helps to explain accurately and smoothly, there is no need to stick to certain words or symbols. For example, "United Nations General Assembly" can be written as "United Nations" or "General Assembly".

4. Interpretation notes use many common abbreviations, such as cf (comparison), co (company), eg (example), etc (etc), ESP (special), IE (maximum), Min (minimum), Ref (reference) and STD (standard).

Effective note-taking system

One of the main reasons that affect the quality of interpretation is the appropriateness of notes.

Interpreting notes is a means to assist memory, which is to write down the key words that can stimulate memory in a speech with simple words or symbols when listening. Through keywords, you can prompt the candidate speakers to express their meaning and grasp the cause and effect of the content and the logical relationship of the context. Besides, numbers, places and names are easy to forget at once, so we should also write down these necessary details in time.

However, if the examinee pays full attention to the notes and ignores the analysis, understanding and processing of the ingested information, then the notes will become a stumbling block to interpretation. Therefore, candidates must follow the basic principle of "brain memory first, notes second" and cannot rely too much on notes.

Having mastered the strategic principles, the next thing to consider is the tactical problem of "how to take notes". How to write it down is a question that varies from person to person. Theoretically, it is appropriate to add symbols in the target language, such as "strong country" as "strong □", "I agree" as "I √" "same viewpoint" as "same" and "economic development" as "classic". Recording in the target language can help candidates get rid of the language shell of the source language, make notes the embryonic form of expression and provide convenience for expression. However, theory belongs to theory, and we should deal with specific situations. Candidates can use the fastest and shortest method they think to record. For example, when translating Chinese into English, Chinese is the mother tongue. If you write in Chinese, you will naturally react faster and remember more accurately. Why not? On the contrary, as long as English recording is relatively easy, you don't have to stick to the above theory and lock your hands and feet. There is also the mixture of English and Chinese, which also reflects the personalization of interpretation notes. It is worth noting that whether using source language or target language, abbreviations or symbols, the key is to restore the recorded content to complete and correct information, and never cause misunderstanding in recognition.

Here are two examples in the exam to illustrate some basic essentials of interpretation notes:

(1) Having been the American manager of a Sino-American joint venture for two years, I have to say that there are differences between China people and Americans in business management. //

Because of our different cultural traditions, we are more direct and straightforward than most of our colleagues in China. //

I can't say that the way we do business is absolutely superior. After all, both management methods have advantages and disadvantages. //

In recent years, more and more American executives have realized the advantages of China's more humane management.

The United States, China and the United States have joined hands for two years. I said dif @ bus.man. China ←→ America//

We are more straightforward/different than China people//

I take a bus. Finish your work -@both //

In recent years, American enterprise exe. Strong: Hu//

Tonight, we are very happy to receive our old friends Dr. and Mrs. Green again in Peking University. //

On behalf of all the teachers and students in the school, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Dr. and Mrs. Green and other distinguished guests from New Zealand. //

I believe that Dr. Green's visit to our school will make an important contribution to further strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations between the two schools. //

Tomorrow, the distinguished guests will visit Nanjing and Shanghai. I wish you all a pleasant journey.

Today we will meet my old friend Dr. Green in Peking University.

All members of generation I → Dr. G's NZ guest: wel //

I went to visit my friends and pay my respects.

Tom Bing went to the south to wish him a pleasant journey//

In a word, taking notes is to highlight the center, prompt the difficulties and help short-term memory, so the method of taking notes must be appropriate. It is impossible and unnecessary to record word by word, and it will also distract attention and affect the listening effect. Explanatory notes should be short and concise, clear and easy to distinguish, with few key words, which can play a good role in prompting the expression after understanding. Interpretation notes have certain rules to follow, but they are highly personalized. Therefore, on the basis of repeated practice, candidates must develop a note-taking system suitable for their own characteristics, and constantly improve it in practice, so as to improve the quality of interpretation through an optimized note-taking system.