Symbols are great....but it is worth abiding by a few basic
principles to make sure they HELP rather than HINDER.
A "symbol" is anything, a mark, sign, letter or short word, used to
represent a thing, or group of synonymous concepts.
Why... - they are quicker and easier to write than words
use
symbol - they eliminate source language interference
(calque)....because they represent ideas not words
s?
How... - symbols should be clear and unambiguous
to use
symbol - prepare symbols in advance, don't improvise mid-speech
and save much heart-ache.
s?
- consistent. If "E" is "energy" today, then let it stay that way.
Find another symbol for "environment"
- make them organic....from one symbol can grow many
other related symbols (see below)
What...
to note
- ideas that recur....ie. think, discuss, propose, agree, decide.
with
These symbols can be used regardless of the meeting topic.
symbol
s?
- and/or specific technical terminology encountered during
meeting preparation. These symbols will be used once and
discarded.
The most obvious example is the underlining...
You can underline any symbol to add emphasis
big ..... big
You can also double underline, draw a squiggly line or a
dotted line underneath a symbol or word denote
differing degrees of emphasis or certainty....
There is a system for noting verbs that ties in with this
idea....
...ver
b
tense
s
wor
k
work
g
workin
g
work
|
| wor
k
| wôr
k
worke
d
will
work
would
work
Here are some more examples of one symbol giving
rise to several more...
al
national (adjective)
ally
Nationally
ze
to nationalize
tn
nationalisation
o
national (noun), citizen
return,
come
reverse, regress

back,
rise, increase,
climb etc.
grow,

fall, decline, slide, slip,
drop, shrink,

exchange, relations,
lead to, consequence of,
therefore

continue,
whatever you like!
pleased.

annoyed, unhappy,
unimpressed, etc.

very unhappy, disgusted, etc

to think
to know, (for me, the straight
line denotes certainty, in
comparison to the squiggly line
for “to think”.)
The circle can also be used to denote a person who is
associated with that symbol's meaning. This can be
done by adding a raised circle to another symbol.
O
al national
citizen
(adjective)
O
econ
Economy
econ
E
Energy
E
O
energy
expert,
supplier,

Policy
O
politician
∩
that,
which
∩O
who
economist
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,
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
wot, wen, y,
wer, who, ?
question mark at beginning NB a rhetorical question is
just 1.
8. question
COS
plus a question mark
9. in addition
+
also, in addition, and, not only, on top of that there is,
||
10. NO LINK
consequences
development
relations
agriculture
agreement
environment
role
energy
success
trade
problem
politics
repression
democracy
impact
work
country
money
meeting
inflation
industry
deficit
surplus
look forward
to
change
want to
need
know
continue
decide
join
propose
listen/hear
lead to, cause
say
promise
attack
agree
thanks
on the one
hand
...on the other
hand
always
(toujours in
French)
until
on behalf of
from that time
on
as opposed to
before
recently
more than/less
than
all
any
now
similar
start
end