Chapter 2 Memory in Interpreting.doc

Chapter 2 Memory in Interpreting1. Task Description: The tasks of this week include introduction of correct ways of comprehending and analyzing incoming messages, and of memory mechanism used in interpreting. Exercises for memory efficiency improvement need to be done in and outside class.2. Correct Ways of Comprehending and Analyzing Messages (1) Listening for sense A. The students must learn practically to disregard the words he hears in order to pay full attention to the message. Listening beyond the words, he will be able to both understand what those words mean, and relates his own knowledge to the message.B. The students are asked to concentrate on the message and to avoid being distracted by the form in which it is presented. They are told to ask themselves as they listen: “what is this really about?” so that they can answer comprehension questions and give a summary afterwards.C. Select a short piece of audio material on current affairs for the students to practice. e.g.“Chinese Presidents Visit to US, Canada and Mexico Serves Development.”Chinese President Hu Jintaos upcoming state visit to the United States, Canada and Mexico is aimed at strengthening dialog, increasing mutual trust and promoting cooperation for common development, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Thursday. Hu will pay a state visit to the three countries from Sept. 5 to 17, 2005, during which he will also attend the United Nations summit marking the 60th anniversary of the world body. Li said the presidents visit to the United States will have a significant impact on the development of China-US ties, which are currently at an important stage. China-US relations as a whole remain stable with close high-level communication and contact, and effective consultation and coordination in areas of economy, anti-terrorism, law enforcement, non-proliferation and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. China and the United States share broad and important common interests, and China is ready to work together with the United States to handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. He hoped the countries would show respect to each other, shelve differences to seek common grounds, improve communication and cooperation, properly handle differences and further improve the China-US constructive cooperative relations on the basis of the three China-US joint communiques.D. After play the audio material of the above, students will answer some comprehension questions such as (Where is the destination of Hus visit? What is the objective of the visit, according to Minister Li? Any special item on Hus itinerary? How did the Foreign Minister characterize Sino-US relations in the interview? What is his hope for the two countries?) and then students will asked to summarize the main ideas of this passage.2) VisualizingA. As students visualize what it is they are hearing as a text is read, they will tend to focus less on words and express themselves on the basis of what they visualize.B. Select a narrative passage for the students to practice.e.g.“Iraqs New Government Meets amidst More Violence”Violence killed five Iraqis and wounded dozens Sunday as Iraqs new national unity government met for the first time with security high on its agenda. The attacks all occurred in Baghdad, the capital, as Iraqis headed back to work and school after their weekend Friday and Saturday. In the deadliest strike, two roadside bombs exploded at about 10:30 a.m. in a crowded fruit market in New Baghdad, a mixed Shiite, Sunni Arab and Christian area in an eastern part of the capital, said police Lt. Ali Abbas.3) Identifying sequencesA. Being aware of time sequences of a narration and concentrating on each new development as the story unfolds is another technique for grasping its sense. The students learn to disregard the words themselves and not get caught up in looking for corresponding terms in the target language.B. Select a narrative passage for the students to practice.e.g.“European Nations dDraw up Iran Compromise”Key European nations put finishing touches Tuesday on a proposal meant to enlist the support of Russia and China for possible U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran should Tehran refuse to abandon uranium enrichment, diplomats said.The compromise which would drop the automatic threat of military action if Iran remains defiant is part of a proposed basket of incentives meant to entice Iran to give up enrichment, a possible pathway to nuclear arms. It also spells out the penalties if it does not.France, Britain and Germany discussed the final form of the package Tuesday ahead of submission for hoped-for approval Wednesday at a formal meeting of the five permanent Security Council members and Germany.3. Memory Mechanism 1) Long-term memory: There are two types of long-term memory: episodic memory and semantic memory. Episodic memory represents our memory of events and experiences in a serial form. Semantic memory is a structured record of facts, concepts and skills that we have acquired. The information in semantic memory is derived from that in our own episodic memory, such that we can learn new facts or concepts from our experiences.2) Short-term memory (working memory for interpreters): Short term memory decays rapidly (200 ms.) and also has a limited capacity. Chunking of information can lead to an increase in the short term memory capacity. This is the reason why a hyphenated phone number is easier to remember than a single long number. Interference often causes disturbance in short-term memory retention. This accounts for the desire to complete the tasks held in short term memory as soon as possible.3) Sensory memory: The sensory memories act as buffers for stimuli received through the senses. A sensory memory exists for each sensory channel: iconic memory for visual stimuli, echoic memory for aural stimuli and haptic memory for touch. Information is passed from sensory memory into short-term memory by attention, thereby filtering the stimuli to only those which are of interest at a given time.4. Exercises to Enhance Working Memory: Use the method of “Making Summaries”(Two students work together. One speaks at normal pace for 1-5 minutes. The second student memorizes in Target Language. The second student gives a summary in TL. The two students discuss the information omitted and why. The two students change roles and repeat the same process.1) Chinese passagese.g. Passage1新华社北京5月24日专电（记者熊争艳）发展改革委决定24日起提高成品油价格。发展改革委副主任张国宝24日表示，成品油价格再次上调是为了适应国际原油价格上涨的需要，同时也是为了使成品油用户重视节约. Passage 2他说，长期以来，中国成品油与国际原油价格倒挂，最近一段时间国际市场原油价格持续大幅上涨，多日在每桶70美元以上。尽管中国最近连续两次上调成品油价格，但依然远低于国际价格水平，这不利于经济的正常运行.Passage 3发展改革委决定，24日起，将汽油、柴油和航空煤油价格分别每吨提高500元。发展改革委要求，各地要认真做好成品油价格调整的各项工作，落实好各项补贴措施。要采取综合措施，稳定出租车司机收入水平。中石油、中石化两大公司要努力增加成品油生产，做好生产和调运的衔接，确保成品油市场供应。 2) English passagese.g.Passage1:Police found the first bomb and detonated it after trying to evacuate the market, said Abbas. But a second hidden bomb exploded a moment later, killing three civilians and wounding 23, all of whom had ignored the evacuation order, Abbas said.Passage2: At about 8 a.m., four gunmen in a speeding BMW killed Ali Abdul-Hussein al-Kinani, 57, who was standing outside his food store in the mostly Shiite neighborhood of Ubaidi, said police Maj. Mahir Hamad Moussa. (ibid)Passage 3My father taught me to do the best i could when i was young and he required me to achieve the best i could, its time for me to stress to myself to make the most of every moment.I want to prove to the world that I can do something more than people thought was possible, I pick that dr