Interpreters’ Working Languages and
Meeting Language Regimes

The interpreter’s working languages fall into three groups. The interpreter’s native language is known as their A-language, whilst their active foreign language is referred to as their B-language. The C-language is a passive language, into which the interpreter does not interpret (i.e., the interpreter uses it as a source language only). An interpreter may also have two A-languages and several C-languages.

The possible working directions of an interpreter are the following:

A into A

A into B

B into A

C into A

A trained interpreter who complies with professional ethics will never interpret into a C-language or between two B- or C-languages.

The term “language regime” refers to the languages used during a meeting. The language regime may be “symmetrical”, which means that interpreting is provided to and from all languages spoken or “asymmetrical”, in which case the speakers may use any of the languages agreed, but interpreting is not provided into all of them.