The Linguist

Chartered Institute of Linguists WINTER 2025 The Linguist 31 OPINION & COMMENT Why interpreters can develop better note-taking techniques by unlearning three unhelpful myths Myth #3: You need to learn long lists. In one of the first note-taking workshops I took I was given a long list of abbreviations and symbols to memorise. It felt overwhelming and I never did it. Worse, it almost discouraged me from taking notes at all. There are two pieces of advice I give my students in this respect. The first is to tap into abbreviations and symbols they already know, for example from previous fields of study. I know interpreters who have backgrounds in science or maths, so that is where they get their symbols and abbreviations; my background is in linguistics so a lot of mine come from the dictionary. The second is to exchange favourite symbols with colleagues; the only way to know if these will work for you is to try them in your note-taking. I like to encourage interpreters to create abbreviations and symbols as they are listening to the information. This can be done by writing the first three letters of a word or by dropping the vowels. In this way, 'appointed' becomes 'app' or 'appntd'. This is a simple way to create abbreviations on the go that make sense in the context. Of course, any official abbreviations related to the speech or organisation always come in handy. Whatever your level of mastery, I hope these insights help you to overcome any uneasiness you might feel towards note-taking and allow you to dive into developing useful techniques. Creating a note-taking system of your own starts by dispelling myths, and that opens a door to more confident learning. Time to take note Catalina Natalini is a linguist and interpreter coach. Find her on YouTube: cutt.ly/CatNat. TL 㐅 This may be time-consuming, if not fruitless, at first – there is not yet consensus among queer Cantonese speakers after all – but it offers everyone involved an opportunity to reflect on their own experience and understanding, and to make collective efforts to push for mainstream adoption of any emerging pronoun. Locally, in Hong Kong, while there is not a one-size-fits-all solution like the singular 'they' in English, it is vital for Sinophone linguists to continue to engage in open discussions, practise active listening, keep an open mind, and use language to (re)shape how we and others perceive the contemporary world. This is particularly important in the current sociopolitical climate where equal rights and legal recognition for the queer community hang in the balance. Globally, amid the normalisation of far-right discourse in the public sphere, I consider it a duty to exercise the linguistic power we possess to educate and inform ourselves and others about the use of inclusive language as a catalyst for change. Only if we remain mindful of our linguistic repertoire can we safeguard and empower marginalised voices, and fight for equality and social justice in a humanised and non-violent way. Notes 1 祂 was created by the missionaries who translated the Bible and it primarily refers to the Christian god. From my experience of learning about note- taking, refining my technique and teaching interpreters how to improve their notes, I have noticed three recurrent beliefs that often hinder improvement. Once I help interpreters to unlearn these myths, they become more comfortable and confident in creating their own note-taking system. Could these myths be hindering your proficiency? Myth #1: It's all about memory. Memory plays a vital role in the way interpreters process information and apply recall, but it isn't everything. When we talk about memory we tend to focus on rote memory, but this gets harder over time. It is more effective to focus on understanding the information rather than memorising it, as remembering what we have understood is an easier way to process information and recall it. Listening exercises that focus on aural recall are a great way to strengthen comprehension and build confidence. Myth #2: You need to note-take everything. It is important to understand that notes complement your memory or knowledge rather than replacing them. When you focus only on taking notes, you drive yourself to exhaustion. However, when you realise that recalling information is an interplay between your memory, notes, language skills and knowledge of the context, the pressure lifts and you are more open to experiment in your note-taking. When interpreters learn to coordinate all these elements skillfully, their interpretations are more natural and polished. Ed Tam MCIL CL (he/him) is a translator, copywriter and copyeditor specialising in marketing, public relations and LGBTQ+ advocacy. TL CATALINA NATALINI

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