A Day with dr rachel sutton-spence
Creative Sign Language, translation and interpreting: making the most of “the visual”
We are so excited to be able to host a visit from the amazing Dr Rachel Sutton-Spence!
Saturday 3rd October 2026
Engineers House, Bristol
10am-4pm with an opportunity to stay and chat with Rachel from 4-5pm
Those in the UK may know Rachel as a linguist who co-authored the well-known and well-read BSL Linguistics book, and who worked for many years at the University of Bristol’s Centre for Deaf Studies. She has an extensive research background in signed language literature and poetry.
Since 2013, Rachel has lived and worked in Brazil, where she is Associate Professor in Sign Language Studies at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina in southern Brazil.
This means she is rarely in the UK!
The day is designed to be a fun look at creative sign language, as Rachel explains:
”In the last 12 years, I have been working with Brazilian sign language artists to study and develop sign language literature and signed literary translation. The literature and the highly iconic creative signing it uses is developing in new genres and forms, all of which find parallels in BSL.
In the first part of the session, we will ask “What do deaf artists know about producing signed literature?”. To understand how the artists play with language to produce highly iconic, visual signing, we will look at some of the elements of creative sign language in prose, poems and visual vernacular (VV).
In the second half of the session, we will look at literary translation, seeing how deaf translators produce sign language translations of written literature. We will also think about voice-over interpretation of sign language literature into spoken English, using ideas of restricted translation and selective translation.”
This exceptional opportunity to learn from Rachel is for one day only, and takes place at Engineers House in Bristol. As well as the superb teaching, an excellent hot lunch and all refreshments will be provided.
The day is open to all deaf and hearing interpreters, and deaf or hearing professionals who use BSL every day.
If you are currently studying Level 6 and are interested to join this training, please contact us.
This training will be in a mixture of BSL and spoken English, all interpreted, possibly with a little Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) thrown in.
6 Structured CPD points available for 6 hours of professional development.
The day will not be available online, and will not be recorded. Places are limited.
The venue: Engineers House is an historic venue on the edge of Bristol with great transport links and an excellent range of lunch options, included in your training cost. Car parking is available on site.
Engineers House is on a direct bus route from Bristol Temple Meads train station.
Accommodation is available nearby, with discounted hotel rates available. Hotel discount information is available after booking.
