B language
In order to describe the languages required at an international conference or to be able to make a statement about the degree of mastery of the respective languages in the case of interpreters, certain terms are used which will be explained below.
On the concepts of "active" and "passive" language:
- A active Language means that Interpreting can both understand and speak this language well. A passive Language, on the other hand, interpreters can only understand well, but they will not interpret into that language.
- A active Language on a Conference indicates that this language is spoken by the speaker, by panelists, or in the room during discussion contributions, a passive Language, on the other hand, is not used at all in the conference room (e.g. when guests of a language only appear as listeners, requests to speak in this language are not scheduled/allowed).
On the terms A-language, B-language and C-language:
- The A-language of an interpreter is his/her mother tongue. If he/she grew up multilingual, in exceptional cases he/she may even have several mother tongues. Interpreting into this language is best after many years of professional experience. The A language is an "active" language (see above).
- At the B language is a language in which the interpreter is almost as proficient as in her mother tongue. Accordingly, she can both understand and speak it perfectly. This is also an "active" language (see above).
- Finally the C language: The interpreter here is able to understand this language very well and to reproduce it into other languages, but he/she does not interpret into this language. This is therefore a "passive" language (see above).
