Documentation and Note-Taking Flashcards
7 cards from real NAATI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Documentation and Note-Taking flashcards as text
A NAATI-certified interpreter is asked to provide a written summary of an interpreted session by a service provider. What should the interpreter do?
Answer: Decline, as summarizing is not within the interpreter's professional role
Interpreters render spoken communication faithfully; producing summaries or written records falls outside their defined professional role.
What is the significance of noting the pragmatic function of an utterance (e.g., request vs. statement) in interpreter notes?
Answer: It ensures the interpreted version conveys the speaker's communicative intent, not just words
Recording the function (command, question, apology) ensures the interpretation reflects what the speaker intended to do with their words.
During a long police interview, an interpreter uses a notepad and reaches the bottom of the page mid-segment. What is the best practice?
Answer: Flip to a new page and continue, using a visual marker to link the ideas
Flipping pages quietly while using a link symbol maintains flow without disrupting the session unnecessarily.
What does the term 'retroactive note-taking' describe in interpreter training?
Answer: Jotting down information slightly after hearing it, once meaning is confirmed
Retroactive note-taking means waiting a fraction of a second after hearing a phrase to confirm meaning before committing it to paper.
How should an interpreter handle proper nouns (unfamiliar names, places) in notes?
Answer: Write them phonetically as heard, then verify spelling at an appropriate moment
Phonetic transcription captures the sound for accurate delivery, with verification sought when possible without disrupting the session.
Which cognitive skill is most directly trained through interpreter note-taking exercises?
Answer: Split attention and divided processing between listening and writing
Note-taking trains the interpreter to simultaneously listen, comprehend, and write — a divided attention skill central to consecutive interpreting.
A client insists that an interpreter provide them with their handwritten notes after a business negotiation. Under NAATI ethics, the interpreter should:
Answer: Politely decline, explaining that notes are a working tool and not a product of the service
Interpreter notes are personal working tools; they are not deliverables, and sharing them could breach confidentiality obligations.