Karen interpreters and translators, in S'gaw and Pwo, for GP surgeries, hospitals, schools, councils, resettlement caseworkers and solicitors anywhere in the UK. We offer face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Karen and English, and a booking line open 24/7.
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Karen interpreting services
Karen is not one language but a family, and the first question is always which member the person speaks. The answer usually comes from where they grew up: the hills of Kayin State, the Irrawaddy delta, or a camp on the Thai border. An S'gaw interpreter will not get far with a Pwo speaker, and a speaker of Pa'o or Karenni needs a different interpreter again. All Karen varieties are tonal, so a phone line with a poor signal loses meaning fast; video or a good landline is better.
Because qualified Karen interpreters are so few, relay interpreting is sometimes the only option: Karen into Burmese by one interpreter, Burmese into English by another. It is slower and loses detail, so we suggest it only when the person agrees and nothing else can be found in time.
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 Karen 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 Karen translation
The S'gaw alphabet was put together by American Baptist missionaries in the 1830s from Burmese letters, and it is still the script of Karen church books, newsletters and camp schools. Pwo Karen has been written in more than one script, so ask to see a sample before we quote. Each of our translators works into their native language, so a native English speaker handles Karen into English.
Many Karen families hold few papers from Myanmar. What they do have may be camp or UNHCR registration documents, Thai-language records, or church certificates of baptism and marriage written in Karen. We translate what exists, and romanise names exactly as they appear on the UK residence permit.
- 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 Karen audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Karen translation
English into Karen for UK readers is usually best in S'gaw, as it has the most readers, but a leaflet for a Pwo-speaking group should be in Pwo. Keep the wording short and plain: some adults had only a few years of camp schooling. Karen letters use extensions of the Myanmar block in Unicode, which not every font supports, so we check the finished file on a phone before delivery.
Karen court and police interpreters
When a Karen speaker is involved in UK proceedings, it may be a family or care case, a tenancy dispute or a criminal matter where they are the victim or a witness. We look for Karen interpreters with legal experience and, where anyone holding them exists for Karen, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Such interpreters are very rare, so tell the court early and consider a remote interpreter by video.
How to book a Karen 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 Karen languages
Karen is a group of Karenic languages of the Sino-Tibetan family, spoken mainly in south-eastern Myanmar and the Thai-Myanmar border.
Karen is written in an alphabet derived from the Burmese script. Varieties include S'gaw Karen and Pwo Karen, the two largest.
Before you book: S'gaw and Pwo Karen are not mutually intelligible, so tell us which one the person speaks. S'gaw is the more widely written.
| Language family | Group of Karenic languages of the Sino-Tibetan family |
|---|---|
| Where it is spoken | South-eastern Myanmar and the Thai-Myanmar border |
| Writing system | Alphabet derived from the Burmese script |
| Language code | kar |
Related languages
Karen interpreters near you
We send Karen 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.
Karen interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Karen 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 Karen interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Karen 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 Karen dialect matter when booking an interpreter?
It can. Karen varieties include S'gaw Karen and Pwo Karen, the two largest. Tell us where the speaker is from, or the dialect they use, so the interpreter is a good match for them.
Can you certify Karen 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 Karen is not written in the Latin alphabet, send us the passport spelling of every name so the translation matches it.
Do you provide Karen 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 Karen interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
