Your month ahead - September
23, International Day of Sign Languages
Celebrated annually on 23 September, the UN designated this day to encourage celebration of the linguistic and cultural diversity of sign languages across the planet, and because “for deaf people, sign language rights are fundamental for the full enjoyment of their human rights as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” The day marks the end of the International Week of Deaf People, which promotes the achievements and culture of the Deaf community.
27, Meskel, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
Meskel marks the discovery of the true crucifixion cross in Jerusalem. Celebrants hold a big bonfire, called a demera, in Meskel Square, Addis Ababa, and smaller versions are built in towns across the country. These are made up of dried sticks and are decorated with yellow flowers. Worshippers from different churches across Ethiopia gather, wearing white with red sashes and playing musical instruments. During Meskel, people return to the villages and neighbourhoods where they were born for the celebrations.
September’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
1 – Ecclesiastical Year begins, Orthodox Christian
1 – First Installation of the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh
4 – Krishna Janmashtami, Hindu
4 – Rohini Vrat, Jain
8 – Feast of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Christian
8 – Nativity of the Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
8 – Paryushana Parvarambha, Jain
12 – Guru Grinth Sahib Jayanti, Sikh
12-13 – Rosh Hashanah, Judaism
12-16 – Paitishahem Gahambar, Zoroastrian
14 – Feast of the Cross, Christian
14 – Ganesh Chaturthi, Hindu
15 – Samvatsari Parva, Jain
21 – Feast of Saint Matthew, Christian
21 – Yom Kippur, Judaism
23 – Mabon, Wicca and Pagan
23 – Autumnal Equinox Day (Shūbun No Hi) Shinto
24 – Pavarana, Buddhist
25 – Anant Chaturdashi, Hindu
26 – Pitri Paksha begins, Hindu
26 Sept - 2 Oct – Sukkot, Judaism
27 – Meskel, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
29 – Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, Christian
Awareness and Events
10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
15 – World Afro Day’s ‘Big Hair Assembly’
18 – International Equal Pay Day
21 – World Alzheimer’s Day
23 – Autumn Equinox
23 – Bi Visibility Day
23 – International Day of Sign Languages
28 Sept - 4 Oct – UK National Inclusion Week
language fact file: Democratic Republic of Congo
A language native to: the Democratic Republic of Congo
Number of native speakers: 20 million
Learn some: Greet people in Lingala with ‘mbote’, which means hello. You can ask ‘ozali malamu?’, which means ‘are you well?’ Hopefully the answer will be ‘nazali malamu’ – I am fine.
Fast facts:
Lingala started life as a simplified language of trade, allowing people living and travelling along the Congo river to do business. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, traders had used a language called Bobangi, but Europeans struggled to learn this, so the simpler Lingala grew in its place. From there it became a complex language spoken as a mother tongue by 20 million people.
Its roots as a language of trade are reflected in relatively large numbers of loan words from other languages, such as motuka from English, meaning car, sabuni from French, meaning soap (savon) and manteka from Portuguese, meaning butter or fat (manteiga).
Lingala is a tonal language, which means meaning is influenced by the tone used. For example, kóma means to arrive, whereas kòma means to write. As it is written using the Latin alphabet and Lingala writers do not often use markers to show the tone, readers often have to rely on context to understand meaning.
The Linguist’s Story - August
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month, we meet Willem Lopes, a linguist working in French and Lingala.
Tell us about the work you do at TLS.
At TLS, I help bridge the communication gap between members of the public and professionals by providing accurate and impartial interpreting services for Lingala and French speakers. My work takes me into a wide range of settings, including hospitals, GP surgeries, schools, clinics, benefit offices, housing departments, social services, and many other public sector organisations.
The work I do is incredibly rewarding because it can have a meaningful impact on people's lives. By facilitating effective communication, we help improve access to essential services and contribute to better outcomes, whether medically, socially, or personally.
What's been your favourite project at TLS?
One of the most rewarding assignments I've had at TLS was supporting the parents of a child with autism throughout a series of parenting courses. As the interpreter, I had the privilege of supporting communication between the family and the professionals delivering the sessions.
Over time, I witnessed an incredible transformation. The parents went from feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their child's diagnosis to developing a much deeper understanding of autism and recognising their child's unique strengths and potential.
Knowing that my role as an interpreter helped make those conversations possible and enabled the family to fully engage with the support available is something I will always be proud of. Experiences like this remind me that interpreting is about far more than language, it's about empowering people, building understanding, and making a genuine difference in their lives.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Navigating situations where there are significant cultural differences between a client and the professionals supporting them. At times, I have worked with individuals who require urgent medical or social care but, because of their personal beliefs, cultural background, or mental health, are unable or unwilling to accept the help being offered.
These moments remind me that interpreting is about far more than translating words. It is about building trust, bridging cultural differences, and ensuring that both parties genuinely understand one another. By facilitating clear and accurate communication, I hope to create an environment where informed decisions can be made and where every individual feels respected, heard, and understood.
Can you tell us about a time your work made a difference to someone's life?
Choosing just one example is incredibly difficult because so many assignments have had a profound impact.
I have interpreted for homeless families as they navigated housing services and were eventually able to secure accommodation. I have helped parents understand their child's diagnosis, giving them the knowledge and reassurance they needed to support their child with confidence.
I have also worked with individuals recovering from life-changing medical conditions, including supporting a client after brain surgery as she learned to communicate again, and interpreting during physiotherapy sessions for someone recovering from a stroke, enabling them to fully engage in their rehabilitation. I have witnessed children with speech and language difficulties make remarkable progress because their families were able to understand and actively participate in their therapy.
These are just a few examples among many. While interpreters often work behind the scenes, our role can be life changing. Every assignment is an opportunity to remove barriers, empower individuals, and ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to understand, to be understood, and to access the support they need. Knowing that I have played a small part in those journeys is one of the greatest privileges of my career.
TLS retains Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation
TLS has once again been awarded the UK Government-backed Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation, demonstrating our continued commitment to data security and best practices in cybersecurity.
The accreditation confirms that our systems and processes exceed industry standards for protecting your data from common online threats. This means that you can rest assured that our current protections offer the best in cyber safety, and that we are always working to stay ahead of new and emerging threats. It reflects our proactive approach to risk management and our dedication to maintaining the highest levels of trust and compliance.
If you have any questions about Cyber Essentials Plus, please speak to your account manager.
In your diary - August
1, Lughnasadh, Wicca and Pagan
Lughnasadh (pronounced ‘loo nah sod’) is a harvest festival traditionally celebrated by the Gaelic Celtic people of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, and originally marked the beginning of autumn. It is the first of three harvest festivals and focuses on gratitude for the bounty of grain. For this reason, celebrations involved fresh bread and corn dollies – small figurines made from sheafs of grain.
16, Onam, Hindu
Onam is another harvest festival, mainly taking place in the southern Indian state of Kerala, and in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Celebrated over ten days, it is the state festival for Kerala and marks the new year there. The biggest celebration of Onam is held on the last day, called Thiruvonam. People decorate with pookalams, mats made from flowers, and special boat races are held, as well as choreographed martial art displays and dancing.
August’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
1 – Lammas, Christian
1 – Lughnasadh, Wicca and Pagan
1 – Fast in Honour of the Holy Mother of the Lord Jesus begins, Orthodox Christian
4 – Arba’een, Islam
6 – Feast of Transfiguration, Catholic Christian
6 – Transfiguration of the Lord, Orthodox Christian
7 – Guru Har Krishan Jayanti, Sikh
8 – Rohini Vrat, Jain
8-17 – Muktad (Fravardeghan Days), Zoroastrian
10 – Feast of Saint Lawrence, Christian
13-15 – Obon, Buddhist and Shinto
15 – Assumption of Mary, Catholic Christian
15 – Dormition of the Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
16 – Onam begins, Hindu
22 – Feast of the Queenship of Mary, Catholic Christian
24 – Feast of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, Christian
26 – Mawlid Al-Nabi, Islam
27 – Ullambana (Hungry Ghost Festival), Buddhist
28 – Raksha Bandhan, Hindu
28 – Dormition of the Mother of God, Orthodox Christian
29 – Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, Christian
Awareness and Events
9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
19 – World Humanitarian Day
22 – International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
23 – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
language fact file: Irish Gaelic
An official language in: the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland
Number of native speakers: Approximately 20-30,000, with 1.9m claiming some knowledge of the language
Learn some: Greet others with ‘dia duit’, pronounced ‘jee-ah ditch’ or ‘jee-ah gwit’, depending on where you are in the country! When you part ways, saying goodbye is ‘slán’, pronounced ‘shlahn’.
Fast facts:
Only 1.5% of the Irish population speak Gaelic every day. But there are currently more people learning the language online than there are living in Ireland!
The Irish language is one of the oldest written languages in Europe, dating back to the 4th century.
Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle, because its landscapes are so green. One of the reasons for this is a rather wet climate, and Gaelic has 30-50 commonly recognised words and expressions for different kinds of rain!
The TLS Team Member’s Story - July
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists, and sometimes a member of the TLS team. This month, we meet Faheem Dharma, our Operations Delivery Manager.
Tell us about the work you do at TLS.
As Operations Delivery Manager, my role is to ensure the business runs smoothly on a day-to-day basis. I oversee our operational delivery, work closely with our teams to continuously improve processes, and ensure we provide the highest possible standard of service to our customers and service users.
I also support our colleagues by making sure they have everything they need to perform their roles effectively. This includes managing day-to-day equipment, sourcing specialist hardware, implementing new software and systems, and ensuring our teams have access to the tools and technology required to deliver an efficient, reliable service. Whether it’s operational improvements, technical solutions or supporting staff with their day-to-day requirements, my focus is always on enabling the business to operate as effectively as possible.
What’s been your favourite project at TLS?
One of my favourite projects has been helping to develop our Vista system. Earlier in my career, I had the opportunity to contribute to systems used by Stockport Council and the Royal London Hospital. That experience gave me valuable insight into what an effective operational platform should look like. When we came to build our own system, I was able to help shape a solution that genuinely supports our teams and makes their day-to-day work more efficient.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Without question, the biggest challenge was supporting the business through the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of a single weekend, we transitioned our office-based workforce to remote working. This involved preparing laptops, telephones and other equipment for the team, delivering them to employees’ homes and helping everyone get set up in time for Monday morning. It’s safe to say there was no shortage of calories burned over the weekend!
Despite the challenges, we maintained business continuity and continued delivering essential language services without interruption. This was only possible thanks to the dedication of the entire team. Special recognition goes to Carlo, our Innovations Director, whose leadership and development of remote service platforms ensured our customers and service users continued receiving the support they needed during an incredibly difficult period.
Can you tell us about a time your work made a difference to someone’s life?
During a personal visit to the Royal London Hospital, I overheard reception staff discussing a critically ill British Sign Language (BSL) user who had arrived in A&E without access to an interpreter. Recognising the urgency of the situation, I contacted our operations team immediately and asked them to source a BSL interpreter as quickly as possible.
Within 30 minutes, we had an interpreter at the hospital. Afterwards, I learned that the patient required emergency surgery but had been unable to understand what was being explained or provide informed consent because there was no interpreter present. Knowing that we were able to help remove that communication barrier at such a critical moment is something I will always be proud of.
Tell us what you enjoy doing outside of work.
Outside of work, I’m a keen DIY enthusiast and enjoy taking on home improvement projects. I’m also passionate about fitness and spending quality time with my twin boys, who certainly keep life busy and entertaining. My gym sessions keep me fit… my love of chicken burgers keeps me humble!
Your month ahead - July
11, Rohini Vrat, Jain
This Jain observance occurs several times every year, whenever the lunar constellation Rohini Nakshatra is visible in the sky. Traditionally marked by wives seeking long life and wellbeing for their husbands, it is also observed by those in pursuit of peace and prosperity. The day is marked by fasting, which is over when Rohini Nakshatra is no longer visible. Jains observe this fast for a recommended period of five years and five months, after which time they perform a ritual known as Udyapana.
18, Nelson Mandela International Day
Declared by the UN in 2009, this day marks Nelson Mandela’s birthday and serves as a reminder of his work dismantling Apartheid in South Africa and fighting poverty and the spread of HIV/AIDS. Mandela spent 67 years working hard for a better world, so organisers of the day encourage everyone to honour his memory by spending 67 minutes doing something to ‘combat poverty and inequity’.
July’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
3 – Feast of the Saint Thomas the Apostle, Christian
10 – Martyrdom of the Báb, Baha’i
11 – Rohini Vrat, Jain
15 – Saint Vladimir the Great Day, Orthodox Christian
20 – Ashadha Ashtahnika begins, Jain
22 – Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, Christian
23 – Tish’a B’av, Judaism
23 – Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie, Rastafari
24 – Pioneer Day, Mormon Christian
25 – Saint James the Great’s Day, Christian
28 – Ashadha Chaumasi Chaudas, Jain
29 – Asalha Puja (Dharma Day), Buddhist
29 – The 15th of Av, Judaism
29 – Guru Purnima, Hindu, Buddhist and Jain
Awareness and Events
14 – International Non-Binary People’s Day
18 – Nelson Mandela International Day
18 Jul-17 Aug – South Asian Heritage Month
28 – World Hepatitis Day
language fact file: Gujarati
An official language in: Gujarat, India, and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Number of native speakers: More than 55 million
Learn some: ‘Hello’ will be familiar to many of us: નમસ્તે, pronounced ‘namaste’. If you want to go one better, ask how are you with તમે કેમ છો, pronounced ‘tame kem chho?’
Fast facts:
Gujarati is one of 22 official languages in India. It is also one of the most widely spoken foreign languages in both London and Birmingham!
Within the language, there are many diverse dialects. There is an old saying about Gujarati: ‘Baar gaamey boli badlaay’, which translates as ‘the dialect changes every twelve villages’, and the linguistic diversity remains today.
‘Father of the Nation’ and one of the architects of Indian independence, Mahatma Gandhi, spoke Gujarati as his mother tongue, as does Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The linguist’s story - June
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month, we meet Radha Patel, a linguist working in Gujarati.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
I work as a Gujarati Interpreter for TLS, supporting communication between service providers and individuals whose first language is Gujarati. My role involves facilitating accurate and culturally sensitive communication across a variety of settings, helping clients access the information and services they need. I take pride in ensuring that language is never a barrier to understanding, participation, or receiving support.
What has been your biggest challenge?
One of the biggest challenges is interpreting complex or sensitive conversations while ensuring that the meaning, tone, and context are conveyed accurately. This requires not only strong language skills but also professionalism, impartiality, and empathy. Every situation is unique, and it is important to maintain clear communication while respecting cultural differences and individual circumstances.
Can you tell us about a time your work has made a difference to someone?
There have been several occasions where I have supported individuals with refugee status who were navigating unfamiliar systems and processes. In one instance, accurate interpretation helped a client clearly understand important information regarding their support services and future options. Being able to communicate effectively reduced their anxiety and enabled them to make informed decisions. Knowing that my role helped them feel heard, understood, and supported was extremely rewarding.
Tell us something interesting about you.
I enjoy learning about different cultures and languages, which is one of the reasons I find interpreting so fulfilling. Through my work, I can meet people from diverse backgrounds and help build understanding between communities. I am also passionate about continuous learning and developing my skills to provide the highest quality service possible.