In:Basic Concepts and Models for Interpreter and Translator Training: Third edition
Daniel Gile
[Benjamins Translation Library 173] 2026
► pp. 287–320
Chapter 9Techniques, strategies and tactics
Coping with cognitive pressure
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Article outline
- Aims of this chapter
- 1.Introduction
- 2.A core technique in consecutive interpreting: Note-taking
- Source-language speech
- 2.1Choosing a language for note-taking
- 2.2Note layout
- 2.3Advantages and limitations of symbols
- 3.Conference preparation strategies and techniques
- 3.1The availability of extralinguistic knowledge
- 3.2Conference preparation techniques: A cognitive economics view
- 3.2.1Glossaries
- 3.2.2Annotating texts to be read out or sight-translated
- 3.2.3Finding and listening to audio- and video-recordings of speakers
before a conference
- 4.Coping tactics in interpreting
- 4.1Comprehension challenges and tactics
- 4.1.1Stalling
- 4.1.2Reconstructing the meaning with the help of the context
- 4.1.3Using the boothmate’s help
- 4.2Preventive tactics and techniques
- 4.2.1Anticipation
- a.Linguistic anticipation
- b.Extralinguistic anticipation
- c.Is anticipation a tactic?
- 4.2.2On the fly notes (in simultaneous)
- 4.2.3Lengthening or shortening one’s Ear-Voice Span
- 4.2.4Segmenting the source speech and unloading working memory: The linearity technique
- 4.2.1Anticipation
- 4.3Reformulation tactics
- 4.3.1Delaying the reformulation/stalling
- 4.3.2Using the boothmate’s help
- 4.3.3Consulting documents in the booth
- 4.3.4Replacing a segment with a superordinate term or a more
general speech segment - 4.3.5Explaining or paraphrasing
- 4.3.6Reproducing the sound heard in the source-language speech
- 4.3.7‘Instant naturalization’
- 4.3.8Word-for-word transcoding
- 4.3.9Beyond lexical transcoding: Form-based interpreting
- 4.3.10Informing listeners of a problem
- 4.3.11Referring delegates to a visual information source
- 4.3.12Tactical omission
- 4.3.13‘Parallel’ speech
- 4.3.14Switching off the microphone
- 4.1Comprehension challenges and tactics
- 5.‘Laws’ in the selection of coping tactics in simultaneous
interpreting
- Law 1.Maximizing information recovery
- Law 2.Minimizing (cognitive) interference in information recovery
- Law 3.Maximizing the communication impact of the speech
- Law 4.The Law of least effort
- Law 5.Self-protection
- Note: Self-protection beyond coping tactics when experiencing cognitive pressure
- 6.Tactics in consecutive interpreting, sight translation
and simultaneous with text - 7.Tactics in translation
- 8.Teaching suggestions
- Note-taking techniques
- Preparation techniques and strategies and tactics
- 9.What students need to remember
Appendix
