Note taking

Note-taking in consecutive interpreting (Jean-François Rozan)

Introduction

The influence of Rozan on interpreters that take notes in consecutive interpretation is fundamental. The aim of the book is to propose a note-taking system which could be easily adopted by all, regardless of type of language. Differently from those who claim that note-taking depends on the personality of the interpreter and that it cannot easily be learnt, Rozan thinks that note-taking can easily be learnt. With the system, that he defines not as his own system but as the system of all great conference interpreters with whom he worked, he wants to teach the technique of note-taking. However, according to Rozan, this system should not be followed blindly, but it should be an inspiration for the interpreters.

So, his aim with his book, or better his workbook as he defines it himself, is to demonstrate, with practical exercises, the solutions that should be used by the interpreters in order to deal with the problems that note-taking presents. In order to do that, he proposes 7 principles and 10 basic symbols which constitute the consecutive interpreting.

The seven principles

The seven principles proposed by Rozan could be intended as a sort of instructions for consecutive interpreting. They are:

• Noting the idea rather than the word
• The rules of abbreviation
• Links
• Negation
• Emphasis
• Verticality
• Shift

Noting the idea rather than the word

The interpreter should analyse and take notes of the ideas rather than the word. The interpreter must concentrate on the major idea and how this can be noted clearly and simply.

The rules of abbreviation

• Abbreviation of words: According to Rozan, if a word is too long, it must be abbreviated. How? Writing some of the first and last letters of the word.
• Indicating gender and tense: To indicate gender and number, according to Rozan, the interpreter has to add E or S to the top of the abbreviated word. To indicate tense, the interpreter has to add LL for the future and ED for the past to the top of the abbreviation.
• Abbreviating the register: For example, the expression “which have contributed to” is long. The word “help” is short. So, the interpreter must abbreviate by using a word which conveys the same meaning but is shorter.

Links

The sequence of ideas and the links between them is the most important and most difficult part of the speech to note, according to Jean Herbert, one of the first generation of interpreters for the United Nations organization. So, an interpreter should never avoid the links. However, noting links becomes very simple if we use:

• As, why for AND THIS IS BECAUSE, THIS IS THE REASON WHY, SINCE, etc. to convey explanation
• Tho for ALTHOUGH, DESPITE THE FACT THAT, etc. to convey opposition
• If for IT IS POSSIBLE THAT, ASSUMING THAT, etc. to convey limitations
• As to for AS FAR AS (is concerned) to convey reference
• Tfe for THEREFORE to convey conclusion

Moreover, there are extremely useful symbols like:

• = to convey the idea of equality or correspondence
• ≠ to convey the idea of difference or lack of correspondence
• in + to convey the idea of additional precision (in addition, furthermore...)

In conclusion, linking is a way of noting quickly and without repetition the group of subject words and the group of complement words to which the idea relates. The recall arrow (→) is the most commonly used link.

Negation and emphasis

They are two essential elements of any speech and, therefore, they should be noted unambiguously. Negation might be noted by ticking the word, with a line on the word. For example, OK > agree, OK to indicate disagree. It is also possible to write the word “no” before the word.