For interpreters, passive languages are the languages out of which the interpreter is capable of interpreting professionally.

In a meeting, passive languages are the languages from which interpreting is provided into active languages. Thus there may be more passive languages than active languages in a meeting. Example: if interpretation is to be provided into English from French, German and Arabic, English will be the active language and French, German and Arabic will be the passive languages for that meeting. Conversely, there may also be more active languages than passive languages if an English speaker is to be interpreted into French, German and Arabic.

 

See also:
Active Language

 

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