Some definitions on interpreting field

Active language: a language the interpreters speak that delegates can listen to.

Active A-language: The interpreter's native language (or another language strictly equivalent to a native language), into which the interpreter works from all her or his other languages in both modes of interpretation, simultaneous and consecutive.

Active B-language: A language other than the interpreter's native language, of which she or he has a perfect command and into which she or he works from one or more of her or his other languages.

Passive language: a language the interpreters understand that is spoken by the delegates.

Passive C-language: Language, of which the interpreter has a complete understanding and from which she or he works.

The conference interpreter's language combination: In most cases, conference interpreters work from their passive languages into their mother tongue. The mother tongue is their active language.

Complete language regime: interpretation is provided from and into all official languages.

Reduced language regime: interpretation is provided from less than the full number of official languages.

Symmetric language regime: delegates can speak and listen to interpretation from the same languages.

Asymmetric language regime: you can speak more languages than you can listen to.

Tele-conference: any form of communication between two or several participants in two or several different places and relying on the transmission of one or several audio signals between those places.

Videoconference: a tele-conference comprising one or several video signals, which convey the images of some or all the participants.

Multilingual videoconference: a videoconference in two or several languages with interpretation (consecutive or simultaneous).

Tele-interpreting: interpretation of a multilingual videoconference by interpreters who have a direct view of neither the speaker nor their audience.

Sources: International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) and EC, Directorate General for Interpretation