🤟 Sign Language Interpreter

A sign language interpreter is needed when one participant in a conversation uses Georgian Sign Language and the other uses spoken Georgian. At such a meeting the interpreter is the language of both sides: they convey in signs everything that is said in the room, and voice aloud, in fluent Georgian, what the deaf participant says. TARGMANEBI will help make sure that the right specialist attends such a meeting.

This service differs significantly from the written translation of a document. The interpreter works in real time, in two directions at once, and the aim is that the deaf participant receives the information with the same completeness and speed as everyone else. This requires not only command of the language, but also an understanding in advance of the situation, the terminology and the communication style of the specific person.

What the sign language interpreter service includes

At the heart of the service is live interpreting between Georgian Sign Language and spoken Georgian. The meeting may be a private conversation between two people, a working meeting with several participants or an event intended for a large audience. Each format needs different preparation, interpreter positioning and working rhythm, so before booking we always clarify what type of meeting it is.

Georgian Sign Language - an independent language with its own grammar

A common misconception is that sign language is spoken Georgian expressed with the hands. In reality Georgian Sign Language is an independent visual language with its own vocabulary, grammar and rules of sentence construction. Meaning is created by the handshape, the direction of movement, the location of the sign in space, the facial expression and even the body posture. That is why carrying a spoken sentence over into signs word for word often produces a vague or even wrong message.

Proper names, street names or rare terms are often spelled out letter by letter with the fingers - this is called dactylology (fingerspelling). In live conversation it is only an auxiliary tool. An experienced interpreter carries the meaning of the spoken text over into the natural structure of sign language, and shapes what is said in signs into natural Georgian sentences.

The legal framework: the UN Convention and the 2020 law

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force for Georgia in 2014. The Convention includes sign languages alongside spoken languages in the concept of language, and obliges the States Parties to facilitate the use of sign languages and the availability of professional sign language interpreters.

The Law "On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities", adopted in 2020 (Article 14, paragraph 3), established state recognition of Georgian Sign Language as one of the means of communication with deaf and hard-of-hearing persons and of their education, and placed on the state the duty to create the conditions for its use and development. Article 21 of the same law obliges administrative bodies to make their services fully accessible, including in adapted forms such as sign language interpreting, and Article 27 provides for the development and approval of a certification programme for sign language interpreters.

When you need a sign language interpreter

A professional interpreter is especially needed where a conversation has legal, medical or financial consequences, or where a person has to present themselves fully. Below are the most common situations and the material that should be given to the interpreter in advance.

A sign language interpreter at the notary

A notarial act creates a legal consequence, so the person signing must know exactly what they are confirming. Under Article 6 of the Law of Georgia "On Notaries", if a notarial act is requested by a deaf or hard-of-hearing person, the act is performed with the participation of an interpreter who knows sign language, except where the law allows the person to conclude the transaction without an interpreter. Under Article 50 of the same law, where necessary the notary invites the relevant specialist, who confirms with their signature that the content of the document has been explained and that it corresponds to the will of the person.

In practice this concerns a contract of sale, gift or loan, a power of attorney, a consent and other deeds. Before making the appointment, check with the notary what requirements they have regarding the interpreter's participation and what document the interpreter has to present. It is advisable for the interpreter to see the draft document in advance, so that they are not reading the text for the first time in the notary's office. For more about notarial services, see the notary office page.

Court, investigation and meetings with a lawyer

Under Article 11 of the Criminal Procedure Code, proceedings are conducted in Georgian, and a participant who does not speak this language, or does not speak it adequately, is assigned an interpreter. Article 38 of the Code separately names as a right of the accused the use of an interpreter's services at the expense of the state, also in the case where a disability rules out communication with them without sign language.

For a procedural action, the interpreter is appointed by the investigation or the court in the manner established by law, so a private booking does not replace this procedure. An interpreter selected by us may be needed for a consultation with a lawyer, when preparing a claim, at a mediation or at a meeting where no one else provides an interpreter. When dealing with the court and the police, state at the very beginning that you need sign language for communication.

Doctor's visits and medical consultations

At a doctor's visit the patient must be able to describe their complaints in detail and receive in full the doctor's explanation of the diagnosis, the examination, the dose of a medicine and the treatment plan. Short notes written on a sheet of paper cannot hold this amount of information, and involving a family member is not always advisable, especially on sensitive topics.

Informed consent, a pre-operative conversation, a session with a psychologist or pregnancy monitoring are cases where the participation of a neutral professional is especially important. When booking, tell us the address of the clinic, the doctor's specialty and the expected length of the visit. Seeing the previous medical reports will help the interpreter with the terminology.

Public services, banks and other administrative visits

Getting an ID card, registering property, changing a civil status record or signing a bank contract requires detailed explanations. The operator often speaks fast, uses specific terms and expects an immediate answer. The interpreter turns this pace into a rhythm acceptable to both sides and conveys every clarifying question in full.

At a bank it is especially important to understand exactly the loan terms, the interest rate, the consequences of late payment and the digital security rules. The law mentioned above itself obliges administrative bodies to make their services accessible to everyone, so before the visit it is advisable to check whether the institution has its own service. If it does not, or if you prefer to be accompanied by an interpreter selected in advance, you can book one with us.

Job interviews and work meetings

At a job interview the candidate presents their experience, skills and motivation, so what they say must be voiced in fluent Georgian and with the appropriate professional vocabulary. At this moment the interpreter is the candidate's voice: they do not add their own opinions, do not simplify the answers and do not change their tone.

We advise employers to plan the meeting so that the interpreter is in the candidate's line of sight, to address the candidate rather than the interpreter during the conversation, and to share the text of the test assignment with us in advance. After hiring, an interpreter may also be needed on the orientation day, at a safety briefing or at team meetings.

Education, trainings and public events

A lecture, seminar, conference, parents' meeting or cultural event becomes accessible to a deaf participant only when the interpreter is clearly visible and works in sync with the speaker. In a large hall the organizer has to plan in advance the interpreter's place, the lighting and, in the case of an online broadcast, the interpreter's position in the frame.

When booking, share with us the programme, the list of speakers, the slides and the video clips that have to be interpreted while they are shown. At long events two interpreters often work in turns, which keeps the quality up throughout the whole day.

On site or by video: remote sign language interpreting

Face-to-face interpreting is best when the meeting is long, there are several participants, or work on documents and signing are needed. Video interpreting is convenient for a short consultation, for a person living in another city or for an online meeting on Zoom, Teams and similar platforms.

Sign language is visual, so the video quality is decisive: a stable internet connection, good lighting, a calm background and a frame that shows the face, the shoulders and both hands. In some situations, for example at a notary, the remote format may not be acceptable, so the format must always be agreed with the receiving party.

Why written Georgian cannot replace sign language

People often think that a pen and paper or text typed on a phone screen is enough to communicate with a deaf person. Yet for many deaf people the first language is sign language, and written Georgian is a second language, with an individual level of command. A complex legal or medical text may then be understood only partly or wrongly.

Besides, written exchanges are slow, lose intonation and hold back natural dialogue: asking an additional question, clarifying and conveying emotion are difficult that way. A short note is useful for confirming an address or a time, but it cannot replace an important conversation.

Two directions: from sign to spoken Georgian and back

The interpreter's work has two equally important parts. The first is carrying spoken Georgian over into sign language, which requires conveying not only the vocabulary but also the logic, the tone and the purpose. The second is voicing aloud the deaf speaker's signs in such a way that the listener senses the speaker's personality, style and attitude.

The second direction is often harder: a signed sentence conveys information through spatial relations and facial expression that has to be built up in Georgian with separate words. That is why it is important for the interpreter to know the topic in advance and to adapt to the speaker's style at the start of the meeting.

Confidentiality, neutrality and professional ethics

A sign language interpreter often has to deal with very personal matters: a diagnosis, a family dispute, financial difficulty or a criminal case. Information received at a meeting must not be disclosed or used for any other purpose - this is a basic principle of the interpreter's work.

Neutrality means that the interpreter is neither a lawyer, nor an adviser, nor a family member. They do not give advice, do not leave out awkward parts and do not answer in place of a participant. If one of the sides does not understand what was said, the interpreter asks for clarification, but does not change the content on their own initiative.

What to share with the interpreter before the meeting

A prepared interpreter works more accurately. When booking, tell us what the conversation will be about and who will take part, and if a document will be discussed at the meeting, send us a copy or the draft of it. This applies to a contract, the text of a power of attorney, a medical report, an agenda or a presentation.

• the date of the meeting, the start time and the expected length;
• the exact address or the link to the online meeting;
• the number of participants and which of them uses sign language;
• the topic, specific terms, names and abbreviations;
• the documents that will be read or signed at the meeting;
• any particular features of the deaf participant's communication, if there are any.

The material sent to us is kept confidential and is used only to prepare the interpreter.

How to book a sign language interpreter

Call us on 501 113 200 and give us the main details of the meeting. An interpreter is booked separately for each specific meeting, so send your request as early as possible, especially if the visit to the notary or the doctor has already been scheduled. We cannot promise to find an interpreter for the same day; we confirm availability when you get in touch.

Long meetings and interpreters working in turns

Sign language interpreting is physically and mentally demanding work: the interpreter simultaneously listens, analyses, conveys in signs and watches the speaker's reaction. During long continuous work attention drops and the risk of error grows, so at a meeting lasting several hours breaks or two interpreters working in turns must be planned in advance.

When booking, state the real length of the meeting, including any possible delay. If the waiting time is uncertain, for example a queue at a public service or a clinic, tell us in advance, so that the interpreter's schedule can be drawn up with this in mind.

Individual communication needs

Not all deaf or hard-of-hearing people communicate in the same way. Some lost their hearing later in life and have a good command of spoken Georgian, some lip-read, and others mainly use sign language. In signing you may also come across differences between generations, and communicating with a child needs a special approach. The more we know in advance, the better we can select the right interpreter.

Georgia has organizations of deaf and hard-of-hearing people that work on the community's rights and on the development of Georgian Sign Language. We advise organizers of large-scale events to contact them as well during planning, so as to take better account of the community's expectations and accessibility needs.

Written translation of documents and notarization

A sign language interpreter provides spoken communication, while the written translation of a document is a separate service. If you also need a foreign-language document for submission to a notary or to a foreign authority, TARGMANEBI will prepare it, usually the same or the next day depending on the volume, and where needed will submit it for notarization. In that case the notary certifies the translator's signature, not the content or the authenticity of the foreign document.

See the details on the notarized translation and apostille pages. For spoken interpreting in other languages, visit the interpreting page, and interpreters for every language are gathered on the interpreter services page.

Frequently asked questions