3.1.2. The Links

The second thing the interpreter should consider while taking notes is the links between ideas. Links signal the way the speaker wants the listener to relate what is about to be said to what has been said before. A speech is all about two things: the ideas and the links between them.

Why are links important? Let's consider some very clear and plain examples, given by Andrew Gillies in his book “Note-Taking for Consecutive Interpreting: A Short Course” (mentioned in the first Chapter of this research):

e.g.: “The economy is struggling. The Central Bank has left interest rates unchanged.”

In this example we have two ideas, represented by two SVO [Subject Verb Object] groups but we have no link between them. The ideas form a list of factual statements perhaps, but with no links between they are tell us very little. But what happens if there are links between the ideas?

e.g.: ‘The economy is struggling. However, the Central Bank has left interest rates unchanged.’

We now have a very different message. See how much more these ideas say than Example 1. The links bring the ideas into relation with one another and in doing so they give us more information about the situation. In this example we are led to believe that the Central Bank had been expected to change interest rates (and basic economics suggests downwards) but that it has not done so. But what if a different type of link had been used?

e.g.: ‘The economy is struggling. Consequently, the Central Bank has left interest rates unchanged.’

In this example the situation is the opposite. The Bank, we infer, would normally have raised its rate, for one reason or another, but because of the economic situation it did not (in order not to stifle growth, for example). A speech without links is a meaningless list of ideas. [38:64]

According to R. Jones, the ways in which ideas may be linked together are the following:

1) the logical consequence which is expressed clearly with words such as consequently, as a result, accordingly or therefore;

2) the logical cause which can be recognized with the words because, due to, as, or since;

3) opposition which often goes with but, yet, however or nevertheless [43:28-29].

V.K. Lanchikov, the Professor of Moscow State Linguistic University and practicing translator and interpreter, gives the following recommendations on linking and ending the ideas in the message:

1) find appropriate links or a way of indicating a sequence of ideas or the connection between successive ideas; find a quick formula to express “that is why”, “before that”, “but”, “because”, “in spite of that”, etc.

2) use a clear sign to show the end of a sentence (not a period or full stop which is not visible enough and should be used for other purposes), such as a short horizontal line on the left hand side of the page. A short double horizontal line can show the end of a comment on one topic and the passage to a different idea. A full horizontal line across the page can show the end of the entire statement.

Hardly does the interpreter get confused, if he or she notes links systematically. It is just similar to the act of marking road for each turn. Thanks to logical connections, the interpreter can follow every movement and direction change made by the speaker without any difficulty. The connections between individual ideas determine the overall meaning of the speech. Thus it is necessary for the interpreter to realize and render such links. Links create a relationship between 2 or more ideas in a speech and can be conveyed by words, expressions or implicitly. The following table is a breakdown of 10 types of link, words that fall under that category and possible symbols to represent that link.

1.	effect   ->  cause			cos
because, the main reason for this, what is causing this, what’s behind this?
2.	cause   ->  effect			so
hence, this means that, the result of this is, the consequence of this is, so that
3.	so we can conclude, therefore, this would suggest that, thus
because, the main reason for this, what is causing this, what’s behind this?
4.	purpose, objective			to
(in order) to, in such a way as to, so that, with the aim of, the purpose being to,
5.	following limit, contradiction			but
however, nonetheless, on the other hand, in spite of this
6.	preceding limit, contradiction			tho
although, despite (the fact that), even though
7.	condition and consequence			if
if .....then... (or inversion of same), had I known, were this to happen
8.	question			wot, wen, y, wer, who, ?
9.	in addition			+
also, in addition, and, not only, on top of that there is,
10.	NO LINK			||

Table 3: Linking words (symbols) used for note-taking