BSL Translation
Translation Services – English to British Sign Language
Thank you for taking the time to consider making your information accessible in British Sign Language (BSL).
British Sign Language and the Deaf community
British Sign Language is the visual language of Britain's Deaf community. It is a language in its own right, and has its own grammatical structure and syntax.. Though some Deaf people can access a dgree of English, some cannot. Equal access relies on the availability of information in their first language.
The Equality Act 2010 (which has replaced the Disability Discrimination Act) says that organisations have to take reasonable steps to provide information in an accessible format – such as BSL. The legal requirement to promote accessibility, providing BSL content means that businesses and service providers will widen their customer base to include the Deaf community.
What is a British Sign Language Translator?
A BSL Translator will translate any information you have that is written in English into BSL. This can be on a one to one basis, or could involve the production of BSL video clips (e.g. information leaflets or consultation documents translated into BSL for distribution), or BSL content on the web. The filmed translation can also include subtitles to make it fully accessible.
The delivery of information and services online is more prominent today than ever before. Day-to-day communication with mainstream organisations increasingly happens through the internet – including the NHS, local councils, banks, supermarkets, and commercial businesses. Ensuring that online information is accessible is a requirement of disability legislation. However, provision of BSL content on the web is still relatively new compared to other accessibility measures. This marginalises BSL users and often excludes them as potential customers and service users.
What is the difference between a Sign Language Interpreter and a Sign Language Translator?
An interpreter generally works between spoken language and BSL, whereas a translator works between written language and BSL.
For example, if you have a meeting with a deaf person, you would need to book an interpreter. The interpreter will sign everything you say, and will tell you everything the deaf person is saying. This ensures full access to both parties during the meeting. Interpreters normally interpret in ‘live’ settings and when the interpretation has finished, there is no recording of it.
If however you have a written document that you want to make accessible, a translator will take the meaning from the source text and translate it into BSL. You may want the information translated onto a video clip or onto your website, so you will want a recording. Translators are trained to both produce the information in BSL and have different ways to record it.
An NRCPD (National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People) registered translator will produce an accurate translation from the source text into BSL, will ensure the technical quality of the recording is to the client’s specifications, and will have a robust internal monitoring process in place. In terms of security, there will also be safeguards in place to protect the confidentiality of client’s information and the content of the text to be translated.
Do get in touch with us and we work with you to produce a version to suit your requirements.