Maay interpreters and translators for Home Office and asylum work, solicitors, the NHS and social services anywhere in the UK, available for face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, with certified translation between Maay and English and bookings taken 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
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Maay interpreting services
Getting the language right is most of the job. Maay is the home language of the Digil and Mirifle clans and of many Somali Bantu, though some Somali Bantu families speak Kizigua (also called Mushunguli) instead. Smaller southern languages such as Jiiddu, Tunni and Dabarre are separate again and should not be assumed to be Maay. If the client is unsure, a short telephone check with an interpreter before the real appointment settles it.
Consecutive interpreting in short turns works best, especially for people unused to formal interviews. Where no Maay interpreter can be found in time, relay through Somali is sometimes used, but it doubles the room for error and should be a last resort, never the plan.
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 Maay 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 Maay translation
Hardly any official paperwork exists in Maay. Southern Somali families usually hold documents in Standard Somali, Arabic or English, along with papers issued in Kenya or by UNHCR during years in refugee camps. We translate whichever language each document is actually in, and every translator works into their native language, so the English version is written by a native English speaker and certified for UK use.
Handwritten statements and letters written by Maay speakers are a different matter: spellings wander because there is no fixed standard. Send a clear scan and tell us the person's name as it appears in their Home Office papers, so every version matches.
- 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 Maay audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Maay translation
Written Maay has no single agreed spelling and few people learnt to read it, so a leaflet in Maay may not reach its reader. For written material the usual choice is Standard Somali, which some Maay speakers read. When the reader cannot manage Somali, the honest answer is to have a Maay interpreter explain the document in person or by phone, and we can arrange that instead of a written translation.
Maay court and police interpreters
Legal cases involving Maay speakers are mostly asylum appeals, criminal matters and family proceedings. For court and tribunal bookings we look for Maay interpreters with legal experience and, where interpreters holding them exist for Maay, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Because qualified Maay interpreters are few, solicitors should raise the language with the court well before the hearing, and confirm that the defendant or witness has had a chance to speak to the interpreter on the day.
How to book a Maay 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 Maay language
Maay is a Cushitic language of the Afroasiatic family, related to Somali. It is spoken mainly in southern Somalia, especially the Bay and Bakool regions.
Maay is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Speakers of Standard Somali do not easily follow Maay. Somalis from the south, including many from minority groups, may need a Maay interpreter rather than a Somali one.
| Name in Maay | Af-Maay |
|---|---|
| Language family | Cushitic language of the Afroasiatic family, related to Somali |
| Where it is spoken | Southern Somalia, especially the Bay and Bakool regions |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | ymm |
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Maay interpreters near you
We send Maay 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.
Maay interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Maay 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 Maay interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Maay 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 Maay 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 Maay 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 Maay interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
