The Impact Of Note-Taking On C-E Simultancous Interpretation Of Number-Intensive Speeches

Simultaneous interpretation is a complex intellectual task, which requires advanced language skills, split of attention abilities and extensive domain knowledge. The quality of simultaneous interpretation is affected by numerous problem triggers. Numbers, characterized by short duration, low redundancy, low predictability and a high informative content, are a well-known problem trigger. They cause troubles to both students and seasoned professionals during all three segments of simultaneous interpretation including listening, short-term memory and production. Therefore, errors and omissions are more common for a fast speech with a high density of numbers.Some interpreters resort to note-taking to better deal with numbers. In this paper, an empirical research was conducted to find out if this method can be applied in SI practices based on Daniel Gile's Effort Model. To ensure that the experiment is accurate, scientific and objective, the experiment was carried out in an interpretation classroom using booths and recorders on two groups of four students at Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation of Beijing Foreign Studies University. One group was forbidden from writing down numbers, while the other was required to take notes. Their performance was recorded and graded by three judges. The results, combined with follow-up interviews and questionnaires, were used in the qualitative and quantitative analysis to reach the following conclusion:Note-taking is helpful in the simultaneous interpretation of number-intensive speeches.