Note-Taking:

Simplifying Language

How to Simplify Language

1. Write down only key words and phrases.

e.g. Many wealthy people avoid paying taxes in their own country by opening a Swiss bank account.

However, the Swiss government is under a lot of international pressure to change its banking laws because of the global banking crisis.

Identify the key words and phrases in the following:a. Swiss president Hans-Rudolf Merz said Swiss banks would

cooperate with the international community to fight the tax cheats, but any help would only be on a case-by-case basis.

president, Hans-Rudolf Merz, cooperate, international community, fight, tax cheats, help, case-by-case basis

b. They would only help where foreign governments can prove bank customers are breaking the law.

help, foreign governments, prove, customers,

breaking the law

How to Simplify Language

2. Use common symbols.

Reference: Hampton, M. (2010). Helpful abbreviations for speedy note-taking. Retrieved from http://www.port.ac.uk/media/contacts-and-departments/student-support-services/ask/downloads/Helpful-abbreviations-for-speedy-note-taking.pdf

Simplify the following using key words and symbols.

a. Profit equals revenue minus costs.

Profit = revenue – costs

b. The costs increased. Therefore, the profit decreased.

Costs ↑ profit↓ ∴

c. A decrease in sales can possibly lead to redundancy.

↓ sales ? → redundancy

Money Symbols and Codes

How to Simplify Language

3. Write numbers.

e.g. 4, not ‘four’

39, not ‘thirty-nine’

678, not ‘six hundred seventy-eight’

Simplify the following using symbols, codes, and numbers.

a. Ten tellers and two managers per branch

10 tellers & 2 managers / branch

b. Balance less than two hundred dollars

Balance < $200

c. One euro is approximately equal to one hundred fifty Japanese yen.

1 EUR ≈ 150 JPY

How to Simplify Language4. Use common abbreviations.

Reference: University of Greenwich. (n.d.). Note-making - symbols and abbreviations. Retrieved from http://www2.gre.ac.uk/

Abbreviations for Time, Days of the Week, and Months of the Year

Simplify the following using key words, symbols, and abbreviations.a. Note: The department meeting is scheduled this Friday at

nine in the morning.

N.B. Dept. meeting Fri 9 a.m.

b. Mr. Morgan’s check for three thousand euros, which was dated June sixteenth, was bounced by the bank.

Mr. Morgan check €3k Jun 16 bounced

c. In regard to personal loans, the maximum repayment term is 48 months.

Re personal loans max repayment term = 48 mos

How to Simplify Language5. Invent personal abbreviations where no

common convention exists.

*Two abbreviation techniques:

a. Use the first few letters of the word – just enough to remember what the abbreviation stands for.

e.g. conc for ‘conclusion’ eval for ‘evaluation’ qual for ‘quality’

b. Remove all (or most of) the vowels from the word and use just key consonants bunched together.

e.g. mngmt for ‘management’ mkt for ‘market’ (and mkting for ‘marketing’)

Make your own abbreviations for the following:

a. customer

b. transaction

c. payment

d. development

e. terms and conditions

Re personal abbreviations

a. Don’t invent too many.

b. Use them consistently.

HOMEWORK

Do these tasks in your notebooks:

1. Take notes on the article India Opens Bank for Women.

2. List 10 or more symbols, codes, and abbreviations that you commonly use for banking expressions relevant to your work duties. (e.g. a/c for ‘account’)

Bring your notebooks next lesson so the teacher can check your work.