Nubian interpreters and translators, found through a national search, for asylum, health, council and legal work anywhere in the UK, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Nubian and English (in practice usually of Arabic documents), and bookings taken 24/7.
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Nubian interpreting services
The map of the Nile Nubian languages is not what you would guess. Kenzi is spoken in Egypt near Aswan and Dongolawi far upriver around Dongola in Sudan, yet the two are closely related, while Nobiin, spoken along the stretch between them, is a separate language. The first job, then, is to pin down exactly which one the person speaks. Language shift to Arabic has gone a long way, especially among younger Nubians who grew up in cities, and some understand their family's Nubian better than they speak it.
Consecutive interpreting by telephone or video is the usual set-up. Allow extra time: many legal and medical ideas have no settled Nubian word and are either borrowed from Arabic or explained at length.
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 Nubian 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 Nubian translation
There is very little written Nubian to translate. In the Christian kingdoms of medieval Nubia, Old Nubian was written in an alphabet drawn from Greek and Coptic letters, and Nubian scholars have lately revived a version of it for the modern languages. Births, marriages, school results and court papers in Sudan and Egypt, however, are all issued in Arabic. A Nubian speaker's documents therefore go to our Arabic translators, each of whom works into their native language, and the certified English translation is prepared for UK solicitors, councils and the Home Office.
Nubian names written in Arabic script can be romanised in several ways, so we follow the English spelling in the passport and flag any document that differs.
- 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 Nubian audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Nubian translation
For UK readers who speak a Nubian language, a written translation is seldom the answer: few people read Nubian, and the texts that exist use differing spellings. Arabic is usually the better written choice for leaflets and letters. When the message has to reach someone with little Arabic, a recorded audio message, or a telephone interpreter reading the letter to them, will do more than a written Nubian version.
Nubian court and police interpreters
In UK courts and tribunals, Nubian speakers are most often asylum appellants or witnesses from Sudan, and the first question is whether they can give evidence properly in Arabic or need their own Nubian language. We look for Nubian interpreters with legal experience. Interpreters holding the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) are rarely, if ever, available for Nubian languages, so we tell you plainly what experience the interpreter does have; where Arabic is agreed, we look for Arabic interpreters with those qualifications. A remote link is often the only way to bring a speaker of the right Nubian language into the hearing.
How to book a Nubian 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 Nubian languages
Nubian is a group of Nubian languages of the Nilo-Saharan family, spoken mainly in the Nile valley of southern Egypt and northern Sudan, and the Nuba Mountains.
The Nubian languages are seldom written; when they are, Arabic or Latin letters are used. Varieties include Nobiin and Kenzi-Dongolawi in the Nile valley, and the hill Nubian languages of Kordofan.
Before you book: Most Nubian speakers also speak Arabic, which is used for their official documents.
| Language family | Group of Nubian languages of the Nilo-Saharan family |
|---|---|
| Where it is spoken | The Nile valley of southern Egypt and northern Sudan, and the Nuba Mountains |
| Writing system | Rarely written; the Arabic script or Latin letters when it is |
| Language code | nub |
Related languages
Nubian interpreters near you
We send Nubian 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.
Nubian interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Nubian 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 Nubian interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Nubian 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 Nubian dialect matter when booking an interpreter?
It can. Nubian varieties include Nobiin and Kenzi-Dongolawi in the Nile valley, and the hill Nubian languages of Kordofan. Tell us where the speaker is from, or the dialect they use, so the interpreter is a good match for them.
Can you certify Nubian 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 Nubian 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 Nubian interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
