French Sign Language (LSF) interpreting and translation

LSF interpreting in person, by video and at events

French interpreters are typically trained at master's level. Long or technical assignments need two interpreters. Deaf interpreters (interprètes sourds) and Deaf intermediaries are used in France for courts, mental health and with Deaf people whose language access has been limited, and we can include one in the team.

We provide LSF interpreting face to face, by video remote interpreting and for conferences and online events, covering hospitals and health services, courts and police stations, schools and universities, employment and workplace meetings, and cultural events such as theatre, festivals and museum visits. LSF in the overseas territories has local variation, so tell us where the Deaf person comes from. A French Deaf visitor to Britain or North America will need LSF, not BSL or ASL.

Written French into LSF video

We translate written French or English, including patient information, court documents explained for Deaf parties, educational resources, HR policies and website content, into recorded LSF video made with Deaf translators, and we translate signed LSF video into written French or English. French civil, academic and legal documents are translated and certified by our French team.

Since French law gave families the choice of bilingual education, schools and colleges increasingly need LSF resources, and we can produce series of signed videos for teaching and parent communication.

Captioning and subtitles

We caption and subtitle films, webinars and recorded events in French or English and supply written transcripts of signed and spoken content, each checked by a person.

For live events, we can provide real-time French captions alongside LSF interpreters, which serves deafened and hard of hearing people who do not sign as well as Deaf signers.

Where we can help in LSF

Our vetted, trained and qualified LSF interpreters can support hospitals and health services, courts and police, schools and universities, employers, and conference and cultural event organisers. SILA Linguists® coordinates interpreters, Deaf interpreters and translators through one project team, with vetted professionals, confidentiality agreements and UK GDPR compliance.