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

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.