On Training Methods of Short-term Memory in Consecutive Interpreting
This paper is concerned with the training methods of short-term memory in consecutive interpreting. According to Effort Model from Daniel Gile, the short-term memory is an essential part in the process of interpreting. So, a good short-term memory is able to help interpreter improve the quality of interpreting.
Except for the introduction in Chapter 1, in Chapter 2, there is above all an introduction about interpretation，and this can make us have a clear understanding about the short-term memory. The author holds that interpreting is a STM-centered activity own to its limitation to the time. In Chapter 3, the author describes Daniel Gile’s Effort Model in details even the four steps in it. In Chapter 4, how three types of memory systems work and what functions they have and illustration is focused on the concrete contacts between the short-term memory and interpreting, which is the main topic of the paper. In Chapter 5, based on all above, four training methods of short-term memory are elaborated such as visualizing, reasoning, chunking and outlining. Finally, some cases would be quoted to introduce the application of training methods.
The author hopes that these training methods from this paper could be useful for interpreters.
Key words: consecutive interpreting short-term memory training methods
交替传译中短时记忆的训练方法
本文的焦点集中在口译中短时记忆的训练方法。根据Daniel Gile的精力分配模式，短时记忆在整个口译过程中起着举足轻重的作用。因此，强的短时记忆能力可以帮助译者提高口译的质量。
本文共分为五部分。除第一章介绍部分，在第二章，口译的介绍，帮助我们对短时记忆有个清晰的了解。笔者认为，由于口译工作时间上的严格限制，整个的口译工作是围绕着短时记忆展开的。在第三章中，笔者详细描述了Daniel Gile 的Effort Model, 并对模式中的四个步骤详细展开介绍。第四章介绍了三个记忆系统（瞬时记忆、短时记忆、长时记忆）在人脑中的运作方式，然后对其在口译中的功能特征进行归纳，并把范围圈定到短时记忆与口译工作的具体联系上，即本文的重点所在。第五章，基于以上阐述，作者对短时记忆的训练方法进行了详尽的说明，包括视觉化、逻辑化、模块化以及轮廓化。在第六章，笔者引用了一些具体的案例来对以上涉及到的训练方法进行说明。
作者希望，本文提供的短时记忆的训练方法能够对译员的口译提供一定的帮助。
关键词：交替传译 短期记忆 训练方法
Contents
ABSTRACT I
摘 要 II
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Research Background 1
1.2 Research Question 1
1.3 Research Method 2
1.4 Significance of the Study 2
2 Brief Introduction of Interpreting 3
2.1 Interpreting 3
2.2 Diatheses of Interpreter 3
3 Process of Interpreting 5
3.1 Effort Model 5
3.2 Enlightenments of Effort Model 5
3.2.1 Listening and Comprehension 6
3.2.2 Note-taking 6
3.2.3 Short-term Memory 7
3.2.4 Coordination 7
4 Interpreting and Memory 8
4.1 Memory 8
4.2 Memory Mechanism in Interpreting 8
4.2.1 Sensory Memory 9
4.2.2 Short-term Memory 9
4.2.3 Long-term Memory 10
4.3 Short-term Memory in Interpreting 11
5 Training Methods of STM in Consecutive Interpreting 13
5.1 The Importance of Training STM 13
5.2 Visualizing 13
5.3 Reasoning 14
5.4 Outlining 16
5.5 Chunking 17
6 Conclusion 18
6.1 Research Findings 18
6.2 Research Limitations 18
6.3 Suggestions for the Future Research 18
Bibliography 19
Acknowledgements 21
Interpreting, as an important way of communication between people from different countries, has a long history. With more frequent exchanges of the world in politics, economics and culture, nowadays, interpreting has established its status in international community and become a significant and challenging career. However, the first step of the study on interpreting happened too late even in the west, let alone in China, which occurred at the late of the 20th century. In this chapter, the main topic focuses on some preparations of the paper.
In resent years, thanks to the growth and development of communication between China and other countries, the demand of interpreting professionals has been increasing, lots of language learners hope to go in for this career.
In 1930s, LIN Yutang (2005: 187) has once pointed out that translation is concerned with the relationship between the mind of interpreter and the original words, shortened for words and mind.
Interpreting (training) is a kind of work that contains memory training mainly and note-taking training secondly. It means that the process of interpreting should be a process of memorizing, while the notes should be a clue as an outline. To sum up, holding a strong short-term memory is the key of interpreting.
Memory is seen as processes of encoding, storage, and retrieval of information in human’s brain. The memory mechanism is divided into three systems called sensory stores, short-term memory and long-term memory.
Interpreting is an oral paraphrasing form from original language to target language, which is almost simultaneous or consecutive interpreting with preciseness. So interpreting is a challengeable job no matter who do it such as fresher or superior. As Phalen (2001:4~5) said, inconsideration is to interpreting what a mouse is to a pot of soup. He also believed that an entitled interpreter should be equipped with a good short-term memory to store information listened and deal with original information. Mahmoodzadeh (1992:233) also pointed out that an interpreter should have a good memory.
Firstly, the author read lots of books and collected a great deal of information. Secondly, these books and information are analyzed, are compared. Finally, the paper’s structure is integrated and written out.
In the process, the author enumerates and paraphrases some methods to training short-term memory, which is the main part of this paper.
This author dose a systematic rearrangement about the training methods of short-term memory in consecutive interpreting from interpreting itself to application. It would be helpful for interpreting learners or fresh interpreters more or less.
Interpreting is an oral translating form from interpreting information or texts. According to the nature of an activity, professional interpreting should be classified into three types, conference interpreting, personal interpreting and liaison interpreting.
Conference interpreting usually is used in large international conferences held by some international organizations such as UN, EU and by local organizations. Besides, conferences interpreting could be classified into simultaneous interpreting and consecutive interpreting in terms of the way of working. The aim of most training organization of interpreting is to train qualified interpreter working for these international conferences. And then, personal interpreting refers to those interpreting services provided for very important person in various situations, mainly consecutive interpreting, for instance, the interpreters in ministry of foreign affairs of every country. In other occasions, these activities are liaison interpreting, which mainly are consecutive interpreting and work for two parties in different languages, such as commercial negotiations, tourism interpreting, TV interpreting and court interpreting. Whatever kind interpreting is a challengeable work.
Compared with translation, interpreting is much limited in time and more orally. In general, interpreter doesn’t have sufficient time to organize words for more beautiful as translation. Thus, these characteristics mean that an interpreter needs some qualities.
Firstly, a good interpreter should always keep ready to be in accordance with demands of the time. The interpreting task usually comes suddenly, and interpreter has no more time to prepare before working. Even that it leaves few minutes before guests’ arriving. It means that interpreters should always keep ready in both the mind and professional skills.
Secondly, a good interpreter should have a good mastery of language in both original language and target language. As an interpreter, one should keep learning and concluding to grasp the language and characteristics of OL and TL to the extend that the expressional style of target language is much similar to the original language. Except for that, as the two languages influenced by their own cultures, the style of expression is different. Take an example, with permeation of the Chinese traditional culture centered on Confucianism, Chinese would like to talk about their ideas in reserved and indistinct words. However, the clear, brief and logical expressions in communication with westerns are the extraordinary features.
Thirdly, a good interpreter should be equipped with encyclopedic knowledge. It is very important for an interpreter to read widely because he could face various topics and difficult to deal with every one unless he gets full preparations in daily hours. As for preparations, some methods should be included, such as knowing the current technical jargons and essential concepts, accumulating some Chinese-type expressions and accumulating new words in news events and so on.
Fourthly, a good interpreter should interpret with a standard and clear pronunciation. The first demand of interpreting is to be accurate, so a graceful and fluent voice is a necessary diathesis for an interpreter. Of course, everyone has his own trait in intonation, even a native speaker’s pronunciations differ from other natives, let alone a second language learner. But being an interpreter, one should spare no efforts to hold a standard pronunciation including stress in words and sentences, tones to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding.
Finally, a good interpreter should be equipped with a good short-term memory, because it is impossible to interpret the same topic and content every time, in addition to the time limitation, the interpreter could not retell all the information in spite of taking notes. Nevertheless, to a great extend, interpretation depends on short-term memory. This is the center of the paper, and the author does a detailed illustration and study in the rest.
Daniel Gile proposes Effort Model in Consecutive Interpreting in Basic Concepts and Models for Interpreter and Translator Training. He believes that interpretation training should be based on linguistic competence, analytical ability and knowledge beyond the language. He treats interpreting as a process in which a few tasks are accomplished and language information is handled. First step is the information input, and then interpreters analyze, handle and product information. With this, interpreters remember, comprehend and absorb information listened. Finally, the target information is coordinated.
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