Damara interpreters and translators for clients anywhere in the UK, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Damara and English, and bookings taken 24/7. Specialists in this language are rare, so we search nationally and tell you plainly what can be arranged for your date.
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Damara interpreting services
Start by asking how the person names their own language. Some say Damara, some Khoekhoegowab, some Nama, and the answer tells you whom to look for. Damara and Nama speech differ in accent and in part of their vocabulary but use one written standard, so a Nama-speaking interpreter is normally a sound match. Ask about second languages as well. Namibians schooled since 1990 were taught mainly through English in the upper years, and Afrikaans is common among older generations, which widens the options if a Damara interpreter cannot be found.
Consecutive interpreting in short turns suits the language, and video is the usual way to reach a qualified interpreter wherever they live.
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 Damara 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 Damara translation
Namibian civil documents such as birth and marriage certificates and school results are generally issued in English, so for UK use they may need no translation. Papers from before independence can be in Afrikaans, which is work for an Afrikaans translator. Real Damara translation is mostly letters, personal statements, voice messages and recorded evidence.
Our translators always work into their own native language. For Damara into English that means a native English translator who reads Khoekhoegowab, an uncommon pairing, so allow extra time. Names containing click letters are copied exactly as they stand in the passport.
- 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 Damara audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Damara translation
A Damara translation for UK readers should follow the standard Khoekhoegowab spelling, click letters included, and the finished file must keep those characters when it is printed or emailed; a font that swaps them for boxes ruins the text. Before commissioning, check how the readers would rather receive it. Many read English or Afrikaans with ease, and a plain-English version may serve them just as well.
Damara court and police interpreters
Damara is seldom needed in UK courts. When a Damara speaker is a witness, a defendant or a party in a family case, the court must be satisfied that interpreter and speaker understand each other fully. We look for Damara interpreters with legal experience and ask for the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) if any interpreter holding them exists for Damara. For this language such credentials may simply not be available, so we test experience and fluency directly and discuss with the solicitor or court whether a qualified Afrikaans interpreter would serve the speaker better.
How to book a Damara 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 Damara language
Damara is part of Khoekhoe, a Khoe language with click consonants. It is spoken mainly in Namibia.
Damara is written in the Latin alphabet, with symbols for the clicks.
Before you book: Damara is spoken as part of Khoekhoegowab (Nama and Damara), one of Namibia's national languages.
| Name in Damara | Khoekhoegowab |
|---|---|
| Language family | Part of Khoekhoe, a Khoe language with click consonants |
| Where it is spoken | Namibia |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet, with symbols for the clicks |
| Language code | naq |
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Damara interpreters near you
We send Damara 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.
Damara interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Damara 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 Damara interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Damara 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.
Can you certify Damara 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 Damara 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 Damara interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
