Short definition
The original audio (also called the floor channel) is a speaker's original spoken language – the audio before it's interpreted.
Detailed explanation
At multilingual events, the original audio almost always runs on its own channel in the receiving system – often "channel 0" or "floor." Anyone who doesn't need interpreting, or wants to hear the speaker in their original language, selects this channel. All interpreting languages sit on separate channels of their own.
The original audio is also the source signal for interpreters: they hear it through headphones and render it in real time. The term is central to relay interpreting – if an interpreter lacks the source language, they don't interpret from the original but from a colleague's interpretation instead. The quality of the original audio directly determines how good the interpretation can be.
Relevance in this subject area
The original audio is the reference point for everything: sound reinforcement in the hall, recording, interpreting, and channel distribution. Without a clear original signal, the entire multilingual logic breaks down.
Practical example
At a conference with English as the working language, English-speaking guests simply listen to the original audio on channel 0, while German is interpreted on channel 1 and French on channel 2.
Related terms
Passive language, Relay interpreting, Multi-channel system, Receiver, Microphone chain