Interpreting jargon
In order to describe the languages required at an international conference or, in the case of interpreters, to be able to make a statement about the degree of mastery of the respective languages, one makes use of certain terms which will be explained here in the following.
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, an interpreter can only understand well, but will not interpret into that language.
- A active Language on a Conference This language is spoken by speakers, panelists, or in the room during discussions. 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 (e.g. on an interpreted channel), requests to speak in this language are not scheduled/permitted).
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: Interpreters here are able to understand this language perfectly and to reproduce it in other languages, but they do not interpret into this language. This is therefore a "passive" language (see above).
