training for interpreters: how does your memory work?
DESCRIPTION
I have designed these slides to train conference and public service interpreters. How does your memory work?TRANSCRIPT
09/04/23London Metropolitan
University / ddh 1
How does our memory work?
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 2
Where do we store information?
Many parts of our brain:
Sensorial memory - perception
Working memory - filing and retrieving information
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 3
How does our memory work?
Memories are formed when certain connections (synapses) are strengthened.
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 4
Laying down new memories
Information Senses Cortex Hippocampus
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 5
Memory
A huge filing system!
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 6
Why is memory important for interpreters?
Consecutive Interpreting?
Simultaneous Interpreting?
Remote Interpreting? Research? Vocabulary?
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 7
How good is your memory?
Look at the following phone numbers and try to remember them
0 5 1 2 8 9 9 3 6 4 5 7
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 8
Short term memory-Immediate memory
Information is stored for immediate use
With regular stimulation:long term memory
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 9
Short term memory
Can store information for less than a minute It is limited in capacity to about:
7 items when they are not connected, however difficult they are
10 to 20 items when they are connected (sentence…)
Uses auditive memory Distraction will immediately erase the information
stored in our immediate memory
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 10
Short term memory
Best friends: Concentration Relaxation Adrenaline
Worst ennemies: Distraction (external
and internal) Fear
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 11
Short term memory and interpreting
Used in: Simultaneous Interpreting Chuchotage Short Consecutive
Interpreting (ad hoc, over the telephone…)
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 12
Long term memory
Memories of events,
How to do things
Facts.
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 13
Storing information long term
Memory 3 hours later 3 days later
Auditive 70% 10%
Visual 72% 20%
Combination of the 2
85% 65%
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 14
Storing information long term
A few secrets: Stimulate your memory
often on the same topic Use all memory
combinations for optimum results
Understand your favourite sensory channel
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 15
Working memory
The ‘blackboard of our mind'.
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 16
What is your earliest memory?
Usually at 3 or 4 years old
Not accessible before speaking
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 17
Improving your memory
Association of facts with meanings
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 18
Ancient memory tricks
. Cicero
recommended breaking a long text into bits.
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 19
Testing, testing…
Listen to the text carefully
Concentrate Answer questions on
the handouts on your own
Do not speak
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 20
Improving your memory with medication
Smart drugs: positive help on rebuilding memory after a stroke or Alzheimer disease
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 21
Right and left brain
In most people, the left side of the brain - which controls the right side of the body - deals more with language.
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 22
Conference Interpreters
Usually we listen with our right ear and
Uncover our left ear to listen to our delivery
When you phone, which ear do you use spontaneously?
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 23
To get the whole picture
We actually need both sides of our brain to get the 'whole picture'.
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 24
What about interpreters?
We need to build bridges between listening and understanding
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 25
Speaking words
We use the part of our brain called Broca's area.
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 26
Understanding words
When we listen to (or read) words, we are using a part of our brain known as Wernicke's area.
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 27
Language pathways in our brain
a complex network between speaking (Broca's area) and understanding words (Wernicke's area).
When we speak a word that we have read or heard, the message goes to the parts of our brain concerned with seeing or hearing, and then to both language areas before an instruction is sent to other areas concerned with movement of the tongue and lips.
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 28
However…how much do we understand?
10% comes from the words (conscious level)
40% comes from the tone of the speaker’s voice
50% comes from non verbal attitude (unconscious level)
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 29
Emotional memory
When remembering an emotional event, we recall not only what happened, but also how we felt - an emotional memory.
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 30
Feedback from the memory test
3 possible channels Visual memory Auditive memory Kinetic memory
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 31
Who are we?
Results for the test are not rigid, they can change depending on life styles and new skills (playing a new musical instrument…)
There is no right or wrong result, the ideal is to have a balanced result in all 3.
Once we understand our strong channel, we can consciously encourage the storage of new information
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 32
Visual memory
Use colours, space, harmony, elegance and order
Look at people’s outlook when you speak to them
Visualise events like sequences of a film or a cartoon
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 33
Auditive memory
Concentrate on the intonation and the intensity of the voice of the speaker
Learn new vocabulary reading words out loud, using intonation or tune
Use silence or a light musical background when studying
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 34
Kinetic memory
Use movement to concentrate
Remember emotions felt at the time you were exposed to new information
Use your sense of humour Use your common sense
when listening to understand how facts interact with one another
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 35
Combination of memories
We remember: 10% of what we read 20% of what we listen to 30% of what we see 50% of what we listen
and see at the same time 80% of what we say 90% of what we say and
do at the same time
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 36
Remembering information: 3 stages
1. Exposure to information
2. Recording of information
3. Recalling information
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 37
Exposure to information
You hear info for the first time: Concentrate Avoid distraction Use passive listening
skills Use your sensory
channels (visual, auditive, kinetic memories combined)
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 38
Recording of information
Create word-idea associations . It is vital to think in terms of ideas
Use mental images involving senses (touch, smell..)
Use your own words Organise ideas in
sequences (film) Take notes
09/04/23 London Metropolitan University / ddh 39
Recalling information
Remember information in order, from the beginning (sequence 1, 2, 3 etc…)
Use your notes Remember senses triggered
during stage 1 (emotion, colour of the room, voice of speaker etc..)
09/04/23London Metropolitan
University / ddh 40
To conclude
What will you remember about memory?