Oral interpreting styles and modes : Consecutive interpreting as a case study

Abstract

The paper touches on the importance of note-taking in consecutive interpreting. To begin with, it provides a brief history of interpreting where such an activity has been in existence ever since man has used the spoken word. Interpreting has therefore always played a vital role in the relationships between people of different origins since the beginning of mankind. Further, Throughout the centuries, interpreting became more and more widely spread due to a number of factors. One such factor is religion. The people of many different religions throughout history have journeyed into international territories in order to share and teach their beliefs. Moreover, the paper provides the distinctions existed between translation and interpreting, so to speak, Interpreters are often referred to as translators and people are not always aware of the difference between the two professions. Indeed, An interpreter works with spoken words in a particular context, conveying a message from one language to another, while translation refers to the activity of transferring a written text from one language to another. Unlike translation, interpreting is a spontaneous activity. In other words, in interpretation communication is immediate, involving an interaction between speakers, listeners, and interpreters. In translation there is always a gap between the writing of a text by an author and its reception by the readers. What’s more, the paper presents many modes of interpreting ; simultanous,whispering , at sight interpreting and consecutive. It stresses on the consecutive mode where the interpreter is to produce the interpretation right after the speaker finishes his or her utterance . The paper concludes by examing the necessity of note-taking in such mode, as some information like numbers, proper nouns and any complicated information which are difficult to be remembered all together are better to be noted.