Interpreters Through Times – Episode 2

Brigitte François (Finland/Belgium, based in the UK)

The second episode of Interpreters Through Time features Brigitte François, whose career as a sign language interpreter spans more than forty years across Belgium and the United Kingdom. Her reflections connect personal history, technological change and professional values, offering insight into how the interpreting profession has developed over time.

Brigitte’s journey began in Belgium, interpreting from spoken French into LSFB, before she later continued her work in the United Kingdom interpreting from spoken English into BSL. Her experience reflects the multilingual and international dimensions of the profession, as well as the adaptability interpreters must develop when working across linguistic and cultural contexts.

A defining influence in Brigitte’s story is her family background. Growing up in a signing environment across several generations exposed her to different sign languages and Deaf cultural experiences from an early age. This deep immersion shaped both her linguistic awareness and her understanding of Deaf communities. For Brigitte, language competence is inseparable from lived experience and cultural engagement.

Another important chapter in her career was the development of SignVideo, one of the early Video Relay Service (VRS) initiatives. The project represented a major step forward for accessibility, allowing Deaf people to make telephone calls through interpreters. Brigitte’s reflections highlight both the innovative potential of such technology and the importance of maintaining a human centred approach to communication.

Throughout her reflections, Brigitte repeatedly emphasises the collective nature of interpreting work. Professional interpreting, particularly in remote or high demand contexts such as VRS, relies on collaboration between colleagues. Interpreters must be able to support one another, share responsibility and recognise when teamwork is necessary to maintain quality and wellbeing.

Ethical awareness is another central theme in Brigitte’s testimony. She stresses that interpreters actively shape communication and therefore carry responsibility for managing interaction. Professional training must therefore include strong foundations in ethical decision making, especially as interpreting increasingly intersects with new technologies and evolving communication settings.

Brigitte also reflects on current challenges in interpreter education. The diversity of Deaf communities, the influence of technological change and the increasing number of interpreters who did not grow up in Deaf families all create new demands for training. Curiosity, cultural awareness and openness to different Deaf experiences are essential competencies for future professionals.

Finally, Brigitte highlights the importance of continuous reflection and lifelong learning. Even after decades of practice, she describes interpreting as a process of constant observation and adjustment. For her, professional growth lies in questioning one’s choices, recognising what works in interaction and remaining open to improvement.

Through Brigitte’s reflections, this episode illustrates how the interpreting profession evolves through experience, collaboration and critical reflection. Her testimony reminds us that interpreting is not only a technical skill, but a deeply human practice shaped by culture, ethics and shared responsibility.
 
 Watch the full interview and discover her reflections on the evolution of the profession.