Finnish Sign Language interpreting and translation

Finnish Sign Language interpreting at home and abroad

Finnish interpreters are trained at universities of applied sciences, and team interpreting is standard for long events. We provide interpreting on site and by video for hospital and health centre appointments, dealings with public services, school and university settings, workplace meetings and conferences, in Finland and abroad.

For Swedish-speaking Deaf people from western and southern Finland, we ask whether they use Finland-Swedish Sign Language, a separate and endangered language, and book accordingly. Tell us where the Deaf person went to school, as regional dialects exist. When Finnish Deaf professionals attend international meetings, we can combine Finnish Sign Language with International Sign, and for study visits or secondments we can provide regular remote interpreting.

From written Finnish to signed video

Patient leaflets, public service guidance, course handouts and accessible web pages written in Finnish or English become recorded Finnish Sign Language clips in the hands of our Deaf translators, and a signed clip can equally be turned into written Finnish or English. Official Finnish papers such as birth and degree certificates go to our Finnish translators for certification.

Organisations sometimes need the same message in both of Finland's sign languages. We can produce Finnish Sign Language and Finland-Swedish Sign Language versions in one project, so both communities receive equal information.

Captioning

Finnish, Swedish or English captions can be added to training videos, webinars and recorded meetings, with transcripts capturing both signing and speech.

For Finnish public bodies that must publish information in both national languages, we can provide Finnish and Swedish captions on the same signed video, together with an English track for international audiences. Live events can also be captioned in real time alongside the sign language interpreters on stage.

Where we can help in Finnish Sign Language

Our vetted, trained and qualified Finnish Sign Language interpreters can support healthcare providers, public services, schools and universities, employers and conference organisers. Bookings for Finnish Sign Language are run by one SILA Linguists® coordinator, interpreters are vetted, and the Finnish Deaf community's trust is protected through non-disclosure agreements and UK GDPR.