Amazigh (Berber) interpreters and translators anywhere in the UK for speakers of Tashelhit, Tarifit, Central Atlas Tamazight and Kabyle, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Berber and English, and bookings taken 24 hours a day, for the NHS, solicitors, councils and families.
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Berber interpreting services
The biggest Berber languages each have millions of speakers. Ethnologue puts Tashelhit at around five million, Central Atlas Tamazight at over four and a half million and Kabyle at about three million, and Tarifit and Shawiya are among the other large ones. Within Tashelhit, the regional varieties understand one another well; between two different Berber languages, understanding is partial at best. So we match on the language first and on the region second.
Consecutive interpreting suits nearly every appointment, and an interpreter who also speaks the client's Arabic or French can keep up when the client switches language in mid-sentence.
Face-to-face interpreting
The interpreter comes to you: a hospital ward, a courtroom, a council office, a home visit or a business meeting. It is the best choice when people need to read expressions as well as words, or when the conversation is long or sensitive.
Telephone interpreting
The quickest option to set up. It works well for short calls, triage, appointment reminders and quick checks with a client.
Video interpreting
A Berber interpreter joins by video for remote hearings, consultations and meetings, which helps when there is no interpreter near you.
We also provide medical interpreting and conference interpreting.
Certified Berber translation
For most of their history the Berber languages were spoken far more than written, and a Moroccan family's birth, marriage and court papers are still normally in Arabic or French rather than in Tamazight. So most translation work for Berber-speaking clients is from those languages into English, done by translators who work into their native language, English. Tamazight became an official language of Morocco in July 2011 and of Algeria in February 2016, having been a national language there since 2002. Where a Berber text does need translating, such as a letter, a message or a transcript of a recorded call, we use a translator who knows that particular language and the way its speakers write it.
- Certified translation of birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, driving licences, degree certificates and bank statements, for the Home Office, courts, universities and employers.
- Legal translation: witness statements, court bundles, contracts and immigration papers.
- Document translation of medical reports, letters, leaflets and patient information.
- Urgent translation when a deadline is close.
- Transcription of Berber audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Berber translation
Choosing the script comes first. The Latin alphabet is the most widely used for Berber languages today, and Kabyle writers use it for almost everything; Tifinagh and Arabic letters have their own readers. Tell us who the text is for and we will advise. For many readers a short recorded message in their own Berber language will do more than print, because these have long been languages people speak rather than read.
Berber court and police interpreters
Berber-speaking clients come before immigration tribunals, family courts and criminal courts, and the same rule applies to them as to anyone: a party must understand and be understood. For legal work we look for interpreters with legal experience in the client's own Berber language, and we check for those holding the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) where interpreters with them exist. For some Berber languages no registered interpreter may be available; we will say so, rather than send an Arabic interpreter without asking.
How to book a Berber interpreter
- Tell us about the assignment: the date, time and address, or that you need telephone or video; how long it should last; and what it is for, such as a hospital appointment, a hearing or a business meeting.
- Tell us about the speaker: their country or region and, if you know it, their dialect. Mention any preference for a male or female interpreter.
- Get your quote. We email you a quote, with no obligation to book.
Call 0800 2425 125, email info@uklinguisticservices.co.uk or request a quote online.
About the Berber languages
Berber is a family of Afroasiatic languages, also called Amazigh or Tamazight. It is spoken mainly in Morocco, Algeria and other countries of North Africa and the Sahara. Berber is an official language of Morocco and of Algeria.
Berber is written in the Latin alphabet, the Arabic script and Tifinagh. Varieties include Tashelhit (Shilha), Central Atlas Tamazight and Tarifit in Morocco, and Kabyle in Algeria.
Before you book: Berber is a family of languages rather than one. Tarifit, from Morocco's Rif mountains, is hard going for a Tashelhit speaker from the south, so tell us the speaker's home region.
| Name in Berber | Tamazight |
|---|---|
| Language family | Family of Afroasiatic languages, also called Amazigh or Tamazight |
| Where it is spoken | Morocco, Algeria and other countries of North Africa and the Sahara |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet, the Arabic script and Tifinagh |
| Language code | ber |
Related languages
Berber interpreters near you
We send Berber interpreters to appointments across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and telephone and video interpreting work wherever you are. Choose a town for its local page.
Berber interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Berber interpreter?
We take bookings 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Telephone and video interpreting are usually the quickest to arrange. For a face-to-face appointment, give us as much notice as you can: same-day cover is often possible, but it depends on where you are and how many Berber interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Berber interpreter cost?
The price depends on the type of interpreting (face-to-face, telephone or video), how long the appointment lasts, where it is and how much notice you give. We quote before anything is booked, and quotes are free: call 0800 2425 125 or use our online quote form.
Does the Berber dialect matter when booking an interpreter?
It can. Berber varieties include Tashelhit (Shilha), Central Atlas Tamazight and Tarifit in Morocco, and Kabyle in Algeria. Tell us where the speaker is from, or the dialect they use, so the interpreter is a good match for them.
Can you certify Berber translations for a UK visa or immigration application?
Yes. We translate and certify documents such as birth and marriage certificates, passports and police certificates for visa, settlement and citizenship applications. UK Visas and Immigration asks for each translation to confirm that it is accurate and to show the date and the translator's full name, signature and contact details, so tell us when you order that the document is for an immigration application.
Do you provide Berber interpreters for courts, tribunals and police interviews?
Yes. Tell us the setting when you book, for example a Crown Court trial, an immigration tribunal hearing or a police interview under caution, so we can match a Berber interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
