NAATI Documentation and Note-Taking 3

Question 1

Which of the following best describes 'diagonal notation' used by some consecutive interpreters?

Accepted Answer

A slash or line indicating a logical link or cause-effect relationship between ideas

Answer

A diagonal line or arrow between noted concepts signals a logical connection such as cause-and-effect or contrast.

Question 2

An interpreter working in a community health setting notices a patient provides contradictory information. How should this be handled in notes?

Accepted Answer

Flag the contradiction with a symbol and interpret both statements accurately

Answer

The interpreter's role is to convey all statements faithfully; noting the contradiction ensures accurate delivery of both utterances.

Question 3

What is the danger of relying exclusively on memory without taking notes during consecutive interpreting?

Accepted Answer

Details, numbers, and sequence of ideas are highly prone to omission or distortion

Answer

Working memory is limited; without notes, interpreters risk dropping details, especially numerical data and multi-part lists.

Question 4

In NAATI-assessed consecutive interpreting, what is typically the maximum passage length before the interpreter renders the interpretation?

Accepted Answer

1–3 minutes

Answer

NAATI assessments typically use passages of around 1–3 minutes, reflecting realistic professional consecutive interpreting practice.

Question 5

When documenting a speech that contains an enumerated list, which note-taking strategy is most effective?

Accepted Answer

Number each item vertically on the page as it is heard

Answer

Numbering items vertically preserves order and completeness, making it easy to deliver the full list accurately.

(NAATI) National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Practice Test