Video Interpreting Services

Video interpreting

Video interpreting for spoken languages and British Sign Language

Video interpreting gives you most of what an interpreter in the room gives you: faces, expressions, and the chance to see when someone has not understood, without the travel. Our video interpreting service is easy to use. All you need is a laptop, computer or smartphone with a fast internet connection and a webcam, and our service uses cutting-edge technology to connect you with a qualified interpreter wherever they are, at any time.

You communicate face to face, with similar benefits to an interpreter on site, but without the cost of travel or the trouble of coordinating several people for an on-site meeting.

When video interpreting is the best choice

Many Deaf people prefer an interpreter on site, and for some appointments that is still the right answer. But video interpreting is useful and cost-effective in many situations, and it is the best choice when:

• You need an interpreter immediately, without notice
• There is no qualified interpreter in your area
• In a private matter, you would rather the interpreter came from outside your area
• The interpreter you usually book is not available or cannot reach you

British Sign Language by video

BSL is a visual language, so it cannot be interpreted over the telephone. With video remote interpreting, a BSL interpreter joins the conversation on screen: the Deaf person signs to the camera and the interpreter voices it, and the interpreter signs what the hearing person says. The picture matters more for BSL than for spoken languages, because the interpreter needs to see the signer's hands, face and upper body. Use the largest screen you have, light from the front, and a plain background. For medical, legal and social care appointments, ask for an interpreter registered with the NRCPD. More about the language is on our British Sign Language page.

Platforms and security

We work on the platform you already use, such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Google Meet, or on your organisation's own system. For confidential conversations, use the platform your organisation has approved, send the meeting link only to the people who need it, and do not record the session unless everyone has agreed.

Setting up a good video call

Test first. Check the link, the camera and the sound a few minutes before the appointment starts.

Use a headset or a proper microphone. A laptop's built-in microphone picks up the whole room.

Camera at eye level, light in front. A window behind you turns your face into a silhouette.

One person at a time. The interpreter cannot interpret two people speaking at once.

Everyone in view. If you and the other person are in the same room, make sure the interpreter can see and hear you both.

Where video interpreting is used

Courts and tribunals often join interpreters by video for remote hearings; see court interpreting. Police custody suites can use interpretation by live link in the circumstances PACE allows. GP surgeries, hospitals and therapists use it for remote consultations, councils and housing offices for appointments with residents, and businesses for international calls. For a quick conversation where nobody needs to be seen, telephone interpreting is simpler still.

Languages

Video interpreters are available in more than 350 languages, including British Sign Language, Polish, Romanian, Arabic, Urdu, Ukrainian, Spanish and Mandarin.

Questions about video interpreting

Do I need any special equipment?

No. A laptop, computer or smartphone with a webcam and a fast internet connection is enough. A headset improves the sound for everyone.

How quickly can you connect an interpreter?

Our service connects you with a qualified interpreter at any time. For a planned appointment, book ahead and the interpreter will join at the start time.

Is video interpreting cheaper than an interpreter on site?

It saves the cost of travel, which can be most of the bill for a short appointment or a rare language. For long or sensitive appointments, an interpreter in the room can still be the better choice.