Language Choice in Note-taking for C-E Consecutive Interpreting—An Empirical Study on Trainee Interpreters in China’s Mainland and Taiwan

Cheng Zhan

doi:10.22158/jecs.v3n4p457

Abstract

Based on features of language in note-taking for C-E consecutive interpreting, this research studies and analyzes possible reasons behind the language choice of trainee interpreters in consecutive interpreting. The research combines quantitative and qualitative methods, and conducts a questionnaire survey, consecutive interpreting experiments and semi-structured interviews with 12 trainee interpreters in China’s Mainland and Taiwan. The research shows that notes in language forms account for the largest percentage of notes taken in consecutive interpreting, and that language choice in note-taking cannot be totally explained using the “source language vs. target language” or “A language vs. B language” dichotomy, but is also influenced by efficiency of handwriting and interpreters’ training profile.

Highlights

Based on features of language in note-taking for C-E consecutive interpreting, this research studies and analyzes possible reasons behind the language choice of trainee interpreters in consecutive interpreting
The research shows that notes in language forms account for the largest percentage of notes taken in consecutive interpreting, and that language choice in note-taking cannot be totally explained using the “source language vs. target language” or “A language vs. B language” dichotomy, but is influenced by efficiency of handwriting and interpreters’ training profile
Scholars have used the language direction associated with the interpreting task to describe and explain the language choice of the interpreter’s notes, i.e., using the source language or using the target language in note-taking

Summary

Introduction

Based on features of language in note-taking for C-E consecutive interpreting, this research studies and analyzes possible reasons behind the language choice of trainee interpreters in consecutive interpreting. Chinese researcher Chen (2015) conducted an empirical study based on Dam (2004) and Szabó(2006), and concludes that her subjects show a tendency of taking notes in the source language. One may use either the “source-target language” or “A-B language” category to describe note-taking in consecutive interpreting between English and Chinese, but will the different writing systems in English and Chinese influence interpreters’ choice of language? 2. Rationale and Research Questions In order to more accurately analyze the language choice of note-taking in consecutive interpreting between English and Chinese, and break away from the debate on conventional categories of note-taking language choice as either being source-target language or A-B language, we would argue for the need to approach this topic from the natural attributes of the language of the interpreter. What are the possible reasons for such language choice of the two groups of interpreters? In other words, we want to find out what possibly governs their language choice

Methods

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Conclusion