Reflecting on Adam Price and Jacqui Beckford’s session about embodiment, identity and intention in performance interpreting An interpreter stands at the side of a stage while a performance unfolds several metres away. The actors move, react to one another and use the whole space. The lighting changes, music builds and the audience responds together. The interpreter produces an accurate translation, but remains facing forwards in a fixed position. The Deaf audience must contin

Reflecting on Dr Joseph Musabyimana and Ibrahim Ndagijimana’s session about Rwanda’s interpreting community What happens when a community needs interpreters, but the formal structures normally associated with a profession are still being developed? There may be no established training route, national register or consistent system of professional standards. The number of experienced practitioners may be small, while the need for communication access stretches across education,

Reflecting on Dr Emma Ferguson-Coleman’s session about communication with Deaf people living with dementia Content note: This article discusses dementia, changes in communication and the emotional effect on individuals, families and professionals. An interpreter is sitting with a Deaf person who has dementia. The person begins to sign, but the information does not form a clear account. The signs may refer to different periods of their life, use unfamiliar vocabulary or move b

Reflecting on Professor Jemina Napier’s research into domestic violence, Deaf and hearing families, and trauma-informed interpreting Content note: This article discusses domestic abuse, trauma, children and the professional impact of working in high-risk situations. Please read it at a time and in a way that feels manageable for you. A Deaf woman is trying to explain an experience of domestic abuse. She is distressed, the information is difficult to organise and several profe

Reflecting on Layne James Whittaker’s research into equality, diversity and inclusion within the profession Equality, diversity and inclusion are often discussed as though they concern a particular group of people. Someone may hear “EDI” and assume the conversation belongs mainly to people who have experienced racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia or another form of discrimination. Others may see it as an organisational requirement, a training module to complete or somethi

Reflecting on Nene Ekufu’s session about identity, self-trust and the confidence gap You have prepared for the assignment. You have the qualification, the experience and the language skills. You know the subject, understand the setting and have done this kind of work before. Then the assignment begins and you freeze. A moment of uncertainty appears. Someone looks confused, asks you to repeat something or responds in a way you did not expect. Suddenly, all the knowledge you br

Reflecting on Dr Ben Saunders’ session about what AI research can teach us about sign language A train is cancelled, the platform changes and an announcement needs to reach everyone quickly. At a railway station, an AI-generated BSL message may be able to provide Deaf passengers with information that would otherwise only be available through spoken announcements and display screens. Now imagine a very different situation. A Deaf person is receiving a medical diagnosis, discus

Reflecting on Dr Russell Aldersson’s session on translanguaging and community interpreting Imagine being asked to explain what has happened inside someone’s shoulder. The medical professional uses accurate terminology. The interpreter understands the words and signs. The Deaf patient is watching carefully. Technically, the information could be interpreted from one language into another. But would a signed explanation alone be the clearest way to communicate something that nob

Reflecting on The Interpreter’s Nook with Magnhild Røed Michalsen and Hilde Henrud Where do interpreters and translators go when they want to talk honestly about their work? Not necessarily to report a serious concern, complete a formal course or ask someone for a definite answer. Sometimes we simply need somewhere to discuss a decision, compare experiences, share a resource or ask whether other people are dealing with the same issue. Some professionals have strong local netw

Reflecting on Kate Shearer’s opening keynote at The Together Conference 2026 When we prepare for interpreting or translation work, we usually think about the subject, the language, the people involved and the practical arrangements. We might research terminology, review background information, check the technology, consider possible challenges and make sure we understand what is expected of us. But how often do we prepare for the person we ourselves will be when the work begi

The final session may have ended, the recordings may have closed and the certificates may have been sent, but the conversations from The Together Conference 2026 are far from finished. This year’s theme, Pick It Up, Pass It On, began with a simple idea. None of us becomes the professional we are alone. We learn from tutors, colleagues, Deaf communities, research, experience, mistakes, feedback and the people who have supported us along the way. We then pass those things on, s

CPD and CEUs at Together Conference 2025: What You Need to Know If you're joining us at The Together Conference 2025, there’s good news:...

Deaf interpreters have long relied on human support—whether feed interpreters or live captioners—to carry out their work effectively,...

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the world in countless ways, and for sign language interpreters, it was a time of unprecedented...

Every sign language interpreter faces a pivotal moment in their career—the transition into new, specialised domains such as legal,...

For sign language interpreters, working between languages is only part of the challenge. Culture plays an equally significant role,...

The shift to on-demand and online interpreting has transformed the profession, making interpreters more accessible than ever before. The...

The sign language interpreting profession is evolving, with growing emphasis on professionalisation, academic research, and...

Introduction At The Together Conference 2024 , Professor Jemina Napier delivered a compelling session on the role of sign language...

Welcome to the official Together Conference Blog ! Whether you are a seasoned professional, an emerging translator, or simply someone...