Hakka interpreters and translators anywhere in the UK, for families from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and mainland China. We arrange face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Hakka and English (in practice, of documents written in standard Chinese), and take bookings 24 hours a day.
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Hakka interpreting services
Hakka speakers in the UK usually have a second language, and the booking decision is which of their languages to use. A Hong Kong villager is likely to have Cantonese as well as Hakka; someone from Meizhou, Mandarin; a Hakka speaker from Taiwan, Mandarin too. For routine matters the stronger of those other languages may serve. For consent, a diagnosis or a legal statement, ask the person, and if the answer is Hakka, match the variety as closely as you can. Taiwan's Sixian and the Meixian speech of Guangdong are close enough to work together; other pairs can be much harder going. Almost all Hakka interpreting is consecutive.
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 Hakka 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 Hakka translation
Birth, marriage and identity documents are written in standard Chinese, not in Hakka, so a Hakka-speaking family's paperwork is translated as Chinese: Traditional characters for documents from Hong Kong and Taiwan, Simplified for those from mainland China. The language spoken at home changes the interpreter, not the translation. Our translators work into their native language, so a native English speaker produces the certified English version for the Home Office, a court or a university.
Hakka can be written, in Chinese characters or in one of several romanised spellings, and Taiwan made it one of its national languages in 2017. If you have a text that is actually in written Hakka, send us a copy first so we can find a translator who reads 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 Hakka audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Hakka translation
Hakka speakers who read Chinese learned to do so at school in standard written Chinese, so that is what a letter or leaflet for them should be in, with the script chosen by where they were educated: Traditional for Hong Kong and Taiwan, Simplified for mainland China and Malaysia. A text in written Hakka would slow most of them down. For a reader who struggles with any written Chinese, have an interpreter go through the English with them in Hakka at the appointment.
Hakka court and police interpreters
With so few Hakka interpreters in the UK, a court or police booking needs planning. We look for a Hakka interpreter with legal experience and, if a Hakka interpreter holding either can be found, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI); for a language this uncommon that is not always possible, and the court should be told in advance. If the person is fluent in Cantonese or Mandarin, a qualified interpreter in that language may be proposed instead, but that is for the person, their lawyer and the court to agree, not something to settle from a form.
How to book a Hakka 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 Hakka language
Hakka is a Chinese language of the Sinitic group, spoken mainly in Hakka communities in southern China (Guangdong, Fujian and Jiangxi), Taiwan, Hong Kong's New Territories and South-East Asia.
Hakka is written in Chinese characters.
Before you book: Most Hakka speakers also speak Cantonese or Mandarin, depending on where they grew up.
| Name in Hakka | 客家話 |
|---|---|
| Language family | Chinese language of the Sinitic group |
| Where it is spoken | Hakka communities in southern China (Guangdong, Fujian and Jiangxi), Taiwan, Hong Kong's New Territories and South-East Asia |
| Writing system | Chinese characters |
| Language code | hak |
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Hakka interpreters near you
We send Hakka 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.
Hakka interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Hakka 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 Hakka interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Hakka 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 Hakka 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. Because Hakka is not written in the Latin alphabet, send us the passport spelling of every name so the translation matches it.
Do you provide Hakka 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 Hakka interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
