Translate Plymouth

Plymouth's public interpretation and translation service

Translate Plymouth is a public service which works directly with approved and vetted interpreters and translators, ensuring maximum reliability and peace of mind. Translate Plymouth accesses Interpreters and Translators, including a number of linguists amongst Plymouth City Council staff (who offer their language skills as and when possible) and also independent freelance linguists. It also offers expert advice and information on interpretation and translation issues generally.

• Interpretation is conversion of speech/verbal communication from one language to another immediately.
• Translation is conversion of written/printed material from one language to another (requires accuracy and a longer timescale, often document format is important).
• Braille is a writing system using a series of raised dots to be read with the fingers by people who are blind or whose eyesight is not sufficient for reading printed material.
• British Sign Language (BSL) is the sign language used in the United Kingdom. It is a visual means of communication relying on gestures, facial expressions and body language, used within the deaf community and learned naturally by interaction, which is not dependent on a spoken language.

Organisation

Translate Plymouth is a Plymouth City Council funded service. It is a non-profit organisation, delivering services to organisations working with, or for, the Plymouth community and is part of Plymouth City Council's Social Inclusion Unit.

Need

Provision of good quality interpretation and translation is vital in order to provide services effectively to everyone in our community. Over 50 first languages are spoken in Plymouth and service providers keen to promote social inclusion and good race relations need to be able to meet the diverse demands of their customers. Effective interpretation and translation is also vital to help public authorities meet their responsibilities under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act.

Accessing the service

Any not-for-profit organisation can access Translate Plymouth. However, at times of high demand, priority may be given to the funding organisations. Requests for the service will be responded to during normal office hours. Please note however, that there is currently no cover for holiday periods. At present the service is unlikely to be able to respond to requests for immediate interpretation eg over the phone at the time of the request.

To book an interpreter or if you are interested in enrolling as a translator please complete one of our online forms.

Online web translation

This website can be translated into several different languages by using the free software provided by Altavista. Please visit the website translation page for more information.

Telephone interpreting service [122KB]

Translate Plymouth price list [20KB]

Plymouth City Council Corporate Health and Safety Policy [187KB]

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