What is British Sign Language?
British Sign Language (or BSL) is a language used by approximately 70,000 deaf people in this country. The first preferred language of the deaf community, it is accepted by both linguists and the British Government as a language in its own right (such as English or German, for example). Therefore written English may not always be understood by a BSL user, as it is a different language.
BSL is not simply miming or gesturing, or a system of spelling out English. It is a visual language which, like two-thirds of the world’s languages, has no written form. BSL is just as rich in vocabulary, syntax and grammar as any spoken and written language.
It is often necessary to ‘paint a picture’ before answering a question.
When a deaf person nods their head it means they are following a conversation, not agreeing with what is being said.
Under the Disability Discrimination Act, from October 2004 all service providers will have to make reasonable changes to make sure their services are accessible to everyone, including those people who use BSL.
Remember - not all deaf people use BSL. Always ask the deaf person about how they prefer to communicate.
Working with BSL interpreters
Both deaf and hearing people use interpreters to help communication between them. Here is a list of useful points to remember when working with a BSL interpreter:
The interpreter’s role
The main role of an interpreter is to pass messages from people using BSL into English and vice versa. Interpreters use their skill and knowledge of two different languages and cultures to receive a message given in one language and pass it on in the other language.
Sometimes an interpreter may need to interrupt the person speaking or signing to ask them to repeat or explain what they mean, to make it easier to interpret.
The interpreting process
Sign language interpreters may look very active with their hands, but in actual fact most of the hard work is going on in their heads. They have to listen carefully, watch for the message, extract the meaning and then find an appropriate way to express this in the second language.
As with any other interpreted language, every English word doesn’t necessarily have a corresponding sign in BSL and each language has its own grammatical structure. The interpreting process involves expressing the same meaning using a different vocabulary and grammatical structure.
This means
- Only one message can be interpreted at a time. Therefore, in a meeting it is important that only one person speaks or signs at a time. Otherwise the interpreter may have to stop and request that people speak in turn
- Interpreting requires intense concentration and can be very tiring. At top speed interpreters may be processing up to 20,000 words per hour. The recommended time for interpreting is 20 minutes. Interpreters can work longer than this, but over long periods the quality of the interpretation will suffer
- For meetings and events longer than 2 hours at least two interpreters are necessary
- The mental processing takes time and there will be a delay as the message passes from one language to another.
Where the interpreter should stand or sit
Always think about lighting and background:
The interpreter must be very easy to see, so they should always be placed in good light - never in front of a window, or with light coming from behind as this shadows their face.
The background behind the interpreter should be visually calm. Vivid patterns or a harsh white background can be distracting or strenuous to the eye.
Think about the situation too:
- Job interview
Interviewer and applicant face one another with the interpreter next to the hearing person, or seated to one side - Round table meeting
The interpreter should be positioned directly opposite any deaf participants - Conference
If the presenter is deaf, the interpreter should be positioned opposite them, often in the front row of the audience in order to see the signing clearly.
If the presenter is hearing, the interpreter should be positioned close to them and near any visual aids, so the deaf people in the audience can view quickly and easily.
Communicating Visually
When giving presentations, speak clearly at a normal pace. Speak naturally, in full sentences. In a one-to-one situation always address the deaf person, not the interpreter, even though the deaf person will not always be able to look at you. The interpreter is not an intermediary but is relaying exactly what each person is saying so will say or sign ‘I’ and ‘my’.
In a mixed setting of deaf and hearing people, address the audience in general.
Don’t ask the interpreter any questions, or make comments to them – it will make their task more difficult and they are not supposed to get involved in this way.
Written material
This may also need to be interpreted. Some profoundly deaf people have difficulty reading English, especially technical and academic language. Give out handouts or posters so they can be interpreted and allow for this when planning your session.
Videos
Give the interpreter the opportunity to view videos in advance. The interpreter will need to stand next to the screen to enable deaf people to see the interpreter and the screen at the same time. Don’t switch the lights off unless the interpreter can be lit in another way.
Overhead Projectors or Demonstrations
Speak, then demonstrate, then speak.
Group discussions / open question sessions
Deaf people are at a disadvantage because of the time-lag between speaking and interpreting. The pace needs to be slightly slower and people need to speak or sign one at a time to give the deaf people an equal opportunity to express their views. Establish a signalling system to give everyone an equal chance to contribute. This also allows deaf people to note who is speaking.
Other points to be aware of
Interpreters can not retain much of what they have interpreted, as their full attention is focused on processing the content from one language to another. Therefore, don’t expect an interpreter to ‘fill in’ any deaf people who were not present for the full session.
Watching an interpreter for a long period of time can be very tiring. Hearing people can rest their eyes and still hear what is being said, but if a deaf person stops watching the interpreter they may miss vital information. Because of this deaf people will appreciate breaks in long and intensive programmes.
If you have planned the chance for deaf and hearing people to network during coffee and lunch breaks you may need to book interpreters for these sessions - but remember that interpreters also need time to refresh and relax. Don’t expect them to interpret continuously throughout the day!
In BSL interpreting, it is the meaning of the message that is interpreted, not each individual word. It’s impossible for the interpreter to deal with information they do not fully understand. Therefore it is absolutely essential to send them scripts of speeches, relevant background information and definitions of jargon and technical terms well in advance.
It is recommended that a period of 4 to 6 weeks in advance of the assignment is ideal, with 2 weeks being the absolute minimum.
For presentations where the use of jargon or technical terms can’t be avoided, it is useful to give out a glossary (either before the event or at the beginning) explaining all the terms in plain English
Do you need an interpreter or a communicator?
A BSL Interpreter is a highly qualified and able to provide interpreting in all situations. All BSL interpreters should be registered
A BSL Communicator is someone who is qualified to provide interpreting in day to day and small group situations.
Take advice when booking as to the most suitable person for the situation.
| Interpreter | Communicator |
| Medical Situation | Medical Situation |
| Mental Health | |
| Doctors | Doctors |
| Hospitals | Hospitals |
| Opticians | Opticians |
| Dentists | Dentists |
| Clinics | Clinics |
| Consultants | |
| |
| Legal Situation | Legal Situation |
| Police | Legal requirement to have qualified interpreter |
| Solicitors | Legal requirement to have qualified interpreter |
| Court | Legal requirement to have qualified interpreter |
| Probation | Legal requirement to have qualified interpreter |
| Tribunals | Legal requirement to have qualified interpreter |
| |
| Employment Situation | Employment Situation |
| Job Centres | Job Centres |
| Employment | Employment |
| Interviews | Interviews |
| Union Meetings | |
Other examples where interpreters may be used are:
- Benefits agency
- Social Services
- Conferences
- Weddings
- Meetings
- Funerals
- Christenings
All other reasonable requests may be considered.
To book an interpreter or communicator in the Bradford district telephone the contact number at the end of this page.
If using an Interpreter always use one that is registered.
There is a Register of BSL/English Interpreters (MRSLI), whose members, trainee and junior trainee interpreters are obliged to follow the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People Code of Ethics. This means that they will remain impartial and not give advice, express their opinion or get involved in the conversation. Everything they interpret will be kept confidential.
Complaints procedure for sign language interpreters
If an interpreter or communicator breaks the code of ethics, a complaint should be made as soon as possible to the organisation concerned. Try to resolve a complaint locally.
For major complaints, in the case of interpreters, where this is not possible, you can contact the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People at the University of Durham.
Fees
Fees vary according to qualification and the type of work undertaken.
Some interpreters will include an administration charge and VAT.
Specialist areas of work, e.g. television, Court Conference and theatre work command a higher fee.
Travelling expenses
Travelling expenses will be calculated at the lowest available rail fare or at Local Authority mileage allowance rates.
How to book an interpreter or communicator
As there is a national shortage of suitably qualified interpreters, it is important to book interpreters several weeks in advance whenever possible or to be flexible about dates and times.
When booking an interpreter you should provide the following initial information:
- Type of assignment (job interview, meeting, conference etc.)
- Date, time and length of appointment.
If a suitable interpreter or communicator is available then further information can be provided, such as:
- Subject matter
- Requirements
- Fees
- Address of assignment
- Telephone/fax contact details
- Name of contact person at assignment
- Name and address to whom invoice should be sent.
To book a BSL interpreter or communicator in Bradford, please visit the Get in Touch link below.
For organisations there is a charge for this service
