Chapter 4
Consecutive Interpreting
• Involves a transfer of a spoken message into a target spoken from when the speaker
of the source language pauses in intended intervals to allow for the interpreter of
his/her statement/s.
• In consecutive interpreting the interpreter waits until the speaker has finished the
source language message before rendering the message into the target language.
• The duration of the source language may be anywhere from a few seconds to
several minutes.
• Consecutive interpreting ensures a higher level of accuracy with time for note
taking.
• Consecutive interpreting is more time consuming and maybe boring especially for
those who might speak both languages.
Consecutive Interpreting compared to
simultaneous Interpreting
• Daniel Gile is one of the leading researchers in the field of interpreting.
• He makes the following distinctions between consecutive and simultaneous interpreting:
• In simultaneous interpreting, two languages are processed at the same time in working memory (roughly, the cognitive resources
engaged in short-term processing of information just received).
• Simultaneous is fast paced, which means interpreters might not have enough time to consider all aspects of the SL message.
• In simultaneous interpreting, some of the influence of the source language might need to be inhibited by the interpreter in order to
avoid interference with the message itself (the interpreter’s own existing knowledge of the language might interfere as the message is
interpreted into the TL).
• In consecutive interpreting, this interference is minimal or does not exist. There is time for note taking to ensure accuracy and the
correct processing of language.
• Even if notes are taken in the Source language, it is taken in words or phrases and not complete sentences. They still need to be made
into TL sentences when during interpretation.
• In simultaneous interpreting, an interpreter has little control over the speed of their speech. They are placed under a heavier time
pressure than in consecutive because they need to keep up with the speaker. Especially when interpreting speech segments with a high
concentration of information.
• In consecutive they are able to pace themselves better because they have their own turn to speak. However, time pressure is high when
listening for formation, especially high concentrations of information. This pressure may affect note taking/production.
Daniel Gile’s Model of Consecutive
Interpreting
• Daniel Gile came up with 2 phases that cover the whole processes undertaken by a consecutive interpreter.
• The interpreter:
• Listens to a message
• Takes notes
• Retains some information in his/her short-term memory
• Reads the notes
• Retrieves information from his/her memory
• Presents his/her own interpretation.
• Gile’s model for consecutive interpretation consists of 2 phases:
• Phase 1: Listening and note taking: When the interpreter listens to speech and produces notes.
• The listening effort
• The production effort
• The short-term memory effort
• Phase 2: Reformulation of the target-speech: When the interpreter produces the TL speech based on what is done in phase 1.
• Note-reading effort
• Long-term memory effort
• Production effort
Phase 1
• Phase 1: Listening and note taking
• The listening effort
• Listen actively and comprehend the source utterance.
• Pay attention to the meaning and ideas implied not the sounds and forms.
• Ignore noise and other distractions while listening.
• The production effort
• Occurs 2 times:
• In the listening phase through note taking.
• In the reformulation phase by producing the message in the target language.
• While listening, the interpreter takes notes of the main ideas to remember the content of the message.
• To be effective, note taking should be as brief as possible to reduce memory load.
• The short-term memory effort
• Short-term memory includes all the mental operations related to storage in memory of heard segments of
discourse.
• These are either recalled in the target language, lost if they vanish from memory, or the interpreter decides
not to use them.
Phase 2
• Phase 2: Reformulation of the target-speech
• Note-reading effort
• Trouble free task if notes taken in phase 1 are clear and readable.
• Crossing out finished parts.
• Long-term memory effort
• Retrieving information from long term memory, which was made while listening
to the speaker.
• Production effort
• Producing the message in the target language once the speaker pauses.
Seleskovitch’s 3 main stages of
Interpretating
• Danica Seleskovitch is one of the leading researchers in the field of
interpreting.
• He proposes 3 main stages in interpreting:
• Stage 1:
• Comprehension of the spoken message.
• Stage 2:
• Deverbalization (extracting content out of form).
• Stage 3:
• Expressing the content of the message into the target language.
Note-Taking
• It is to reduce linguistic input by shortening phrases and sentences
• The interpreter tries to represent the linguistic forms to the minimum.
• Some function words such as “the” “a” “but” are dropped.
• Vowels or letters that are easy to recognize can be left out.
• Abbreviations and symbols can be used for common words and phrases.
• We should try not to write words. Rather, ideas and important parts in an
abbreviated way.
• Follow the common system of abbreviations or come up with your own
pattern that is quickly deciphered.
• Example:
• For tomorrow or the future.
• For yesterday or in the past.
• For the present time or now.
Common symbols for Note-Taking
Common Abbreviations for Note-Taking
Common Abbreviations for Note-Taking
Common Abbreviations for Note-Taking
How to note-take
• Use pen and paper
• Use paper that is large in size or a notebook bound from the top.
• Divide the sheet into three sections vertically or horizontally.
• Write one sentence in each section.
Examples-vertical
US Fed gov b4 20th c.
Nov 1850 Dudly Man US repr negot trty
w/swis conf transm 2 us sen 13 feb 51 by pres Fillmor
Examples-horizontal
Exercises
• Listen to the following text while taking notes either vertically or horizontally.
Vertical Sheet
Horizontal Sheet
