Mária Bakti: The development of interpreting competence
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1 Interpreting
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1.4 Directionality

1.4 Directionality

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One typological parameter in interpreting is directionality. In interpreting, a distinction is made between the A, B and C languages of an interpreter. According to the International Association of Conference Interpreters, the A language of an interpreter is “the interpreter's mother tongue into which they work from all their other working languages in both consecutive and simultaneous interpretation” (glossary, AIIC website).

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The B, or active, language is a language “into which they are capable of interpreting” (Jones 1998: 9); and the AIIC defines it as a
 

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language in which the interpreter is perfectly fluent, but which is not a mother tongue. An interpreter can work into this language from one or several of their other working languages. It is also considered an active language for the interpreter (glossary, AIIC website).
 

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A passive or C language is “a language out of which an interpreter is capable of interpreting” (Jones, 1998, p. 9), which the AIIC defines as a language
 

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which the interpreter understands perfectly but into which they do not work. They will interpret from this language into their active languages. It is therefore a passive language for the interpreter (glossary, AIIC website).
 

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These definitions are somewhat vague, mirroring the fact that in Interpreting Studies there is an implicit understanding of what A, B, and C languages mean, however, there are no clear benchmarks for what exactly constitutes an A, B, or C language (Loiseau & Luchner, 2021, p. 468). The situation is further complicated by the fact that the European Framework of Reference for Languages uses a reverse order to measure language competence, where A is the lowest level and C is the highest level of competence (Loiseau & Luchner, 2021, p. 469).

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Loiseau and Luchner have compiled a language competence-based differentiation between A, B, and C languages, based on the following categories (Loiseau & Luchner, 2021, p. 473):

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  1. Vocabulary, terminology and precision
  2. Grammar and syntax
  3. Idiomaticity and naturalness
  4. Style richness and flexibility
  5. Register
  6. Cultural awareness, cultural references and metaphors
  7. Inferences
  8. Simplicity, clarity, economy
  9. Fluency
  10. Accent and pronunciation
 

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Most of these categories apply to active and passive languages, that is to A, B, and C languages, with the exception of 4. Style, richness and flexibility, 8. Simplicity, clarity, and economy, and 9. Fluency, which apply only to the active languages. In conclusion, they state that
 

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the A language can be distinguished from the B language by a near-absence of grammatical and syntactical errors, the absence of a non-native accent, the ability to express ideas with great simplicity, clarity and fluency, and a rich and flexible style – all qualities are necessary to match any speaker’s oratory skill. The B language can be distinguished from the C language by a greater and more precise vocabulary, the ability to understand and produce a variety of idiomatic expressions and collocations, as well as cultural references and metaphors – all qualities necessary to render a message accurately and smoothly for the listener when a retour is needed (Loiseau & Luchner, 2021, p. 485).
 

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In a more practical approach, Seresi (2020) states that language mediators work from their B and C languages to their A language and from their A language to their B language. She adds that B and C language are labels expressing how much deliberate and conscious practice a language mediator has devoted to a given language. With concentrated work, a C language can be developed to the level of a B language (Seresi, 2020).

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Seresi (2020) also mentions that, when applying for an MA in translation and interpreting, students have to make a decision concerning their B and C languages. In addition to language competence, however, it might happen that students consider several other factors when selecting their B and C languages, such as the marketability of a language, the number of applicants for each language, or the language they would like to enhance more during the MA training (Seresi, 2020, p. 144).

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Most of the investigations into directionality in interpreting have centred around the question of A to B versus B to A interpreting (Godijns & Hinderdael, 2005). The Western tradition favoured B to A interpreting, stating that the most elegant and natural speech production happens in the A language, while the Eastern (or USSR-based) tradition favoured interpreting from A to B, their point being that speech perception needed for interpreting is the best in one’s mother tongue (Gile, 2005).
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