Elevating Translation Precision: Note-taking in Consecutive Interpreting across Proficiency Level

Elevating Translation Precision: Note-taking in Consecutive Interpreting across Proficiency Level Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics, 10(1), May 2025 eISSN: 2503-4197, pISSN: 2527-5070 Available online at: www. indonesian-efl-journal.org http://dx.doi.org/10.21462/ijefl.v10i1.887 Elevating Translation Precision: Note-taking in Consecutive Interpreting across Proficiency Level Putu Desi Anggerina Hikmaharyanti 1, Kadek Heni Oktarina Wisudayanti 2 Universitas Mahasaraswati Denpasar, STKIP Agama Hindu Singaraja , Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between note-taking detail, translation accuracy, and proficiency levels among ESL students engaged in consecutive interpreting. The primary aim is to determine how different levels of proficiency affect the detail of notes taken and the resulting accuracy of translations. Participants, categorized using CEFR test into beginner, intermediate, and advanced proficiency levels, were tasked with taking notes while interpreting a source speech. These notes were then analyzed for detail, and the subsequent translations were evaluated for accuracy using a predefined rubric. The analysis involved descriptive statistics to summarize the central tendencies and variability in note-taking detail and translation accuracy within each proficiency level. Additionally, Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between note-taking detail and translation accuracy across all participants. The findings revealed that advanced students took significantly more detailed notes compared to beginners and intermediates. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the detail of note-taking and translation accuracy, indicating that more detailed notes led to more accurate translations. The value r = 0.5266 indicated a moderate positive linear relationship between proficiency level and keywords used in note-taking. This study also found the value r = 0.5243 indicating a moderate positive linear relationship between the number of relevant keywords and translation accuracy. The proficiency level moderated this relationship, with the impact of detailed note-taking on translation accuracy being more pronounced at higher proficiency levels. Keywords: consecutive interpreting, language proficiency, note-taking, translation accuracy Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics, 10(1), May 2025 109 Hikmaharyanti & Wisudayanti 1. INTRODUCTION Consecutive interpreting (CI) is a complex linguistic skill that involves listening to a spoken message, comprehending it, and then rendering it in another language after the speaker has paused (Gile,1995; Szabó, 2021; Garcia & Devesa, 2023; Kohn & Albl-Mikasa, 2021). While consecutive interpreting (CI) requires an interpreter to listen, comprehend, and render messages accurately and fluently in the target language, note-taking serves as a vital aid in this process, enabling the interpreter to retain key information, organize thoughts, and manage discourse cohesion. Moreover, note-taking technology such as TAI (Technology-Assisted Interpreting) might help the interpreter’s work even though the technology still needs assessment (Nugrahani & Purnomo, 2022). Not only that, note-taking also assists the interpreter’s memory (Sakamoto, 2011; Cai, et al, 2015; Jabagyhan, 2021; Mellinger, 2022). In other words, the interpreter must simultaneously listen to and comprehend the source language information, engage in logical analysis, maintain short-term memory, and take notes, all while continuing to listen to the speaker's subsequent information, then within a few seconds after the speaker concludes their speech, the source language information is required for interpretation (Nai, 2020). Here, working memory is very significant cognitive skill in the process of rendering message from source to target language (Lu, 2013; Doherty, et al, 2022; Hikmaharyanti, et al, 2023), it is because the result of message transferred exclusively considered equivalent in meaning (Ulwiyah, 2021). Moreover, working memory encourages people especially interpreters to stay focused (Marwati & Sastra, 2019) and since the process of rendering message is not only about language transfer (Harliani, 2019), the translation result is strongly considered as equivalent as what the target readers understand. In note-taking, an interpreter is allowed to develop their own perceptions based on their needs and preferences (Stern, 2011; Hale &Martschuk, 2023). However, the seven principles of notetaking proposed by Rozan (1956) can serve as a useful reference when beginning to use notes in the process of listening to a speech before developing the perceptions. These principles include taking idea notes, using abbreviations, abbreviating linking words, indicating negation, underlining for emphasis, working down the page, and utilizing symbols. Those principles have not remained static but have been expanded upon and have inspired other practitioners and researchers to develop additional approaches. For example, some methods include dividing the page in half to encourage vertical note-taking or using the left margin for connecting words while reserving the main section of the page for important thoughts (Gillies, 2017; Szabó, 2021). In line with the principles, this study investigated quantitatively the correlation of proficiency level, note-taking detail and translation accuracy produced by novice interpreters, particularly ESL students. The first principle of taking important idea note was applied in this study to elicit whether students with higher proficiency levels achieved detailed note-taking and accurate translation or they might fail. Moreover, listening to essential keywords and then writing those on notes consider easier to conduct especially for novice before passing into the application of abbreviation and other principles. Further, many studies discuss Rozan’s (1956) seven principles, but few examine their individual effects. This study focused on the principle of taking idea notes specifically on keywords, highlighting the need for future research on how different principles (e.g., abbreviations, negation, symbols) influence translation precision. Also, this study explored ESL students’ proficiency level and how far they went through practicing note-taking task in CI for further skill development especially in translation accuracy. 110 Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics, 10(1), May 2025 Elevating Translation Precision: Note-taking in Consecutive Interpreting across Proficiency Level 2. LITERATURE REVIEW Consecutive interpreting, where an interpreter listens to a segment of speech and then translates it after the speaker pauses, is a crucial skill in multilingual communication. Effective note-taking during consecutive interpreting is essential for retaining information and ensuring accurate translations (Wang & Wu, 2022). For ESL students, the challenge is twofold: they must not only m (...truncated)