Sangho (Sango) interpreters and translators for asylum casework, solicitors, the NHS and local authorities anywhere in the UK, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Sangho and English, and bookings taken 24/7. For a language this rare, remote interpreting is usually the quickest way to reach a specialist.
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Sangho interpreting services
Sango grew up as a trade language along the Ubangi River and spread as the common tongue of people whose home languages differ: Gbaya, Banda, Sara and many more. For most Central Africans over a certain age it is still a second language, while children in Bangui increasingly grow up with it as their first. That matters when you book. A client whose home language is Banda or Gbaya may manage in Sango at a market stall but struggle with a detailed interview, so ask what they speak at home. Do not confuse Sango with Lingala, the language of Kinshasa and Brazzaville: the two are unrelated, and a Lingala interpreter will not do. Most Sangho work is consecutive, and a video link suits it well.
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 Sangho 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 Sangho translation
Almost all official paperwork from the Central African Republic is issued in French: birth and marriage certificates, identity cards, school reports and court papers. A "Sangho translation" of a Central African certificate is therefore usually a certified French to English translation, and we will say so rather than quote for the wrong language. Written Sango turns up in personal letters, church material and health leaflets, and its spelling varies. The official orthography marks tone and vowel quality with accents; many writers leave them out altogether.
Each of our translators translates into their native language, and names are copied exactly as the passport or identity card gives them, then the finished English version is certified for UK use.
- 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 Sangho audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Sangho translation
Before paying for English to Sangho translation, think about how the reader will use it. School in the Central African Republic is taught largely in French, so many Sango speakers read French more confidently than Sango, and a French version, or both side by side, may serve a leaflet better. Where Sango is the right choice, for instance for readers with little schooling, keep sentences short, avoid idioms and consider a recorded audio version as well. Tell us whether you want the accented official spelling or the plainer spelling most readers are used to.
Sangho court and police interpreters
Sangho is rarely heard in UK courtrooms; most legal work in the language concerns asylum and immigration, with the occasional family or criminal matter. Our search for a legal booking begins with Sangho interpreters who have legal experience and, where interpreters holding them exist for Sangho, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). For a language this small they may not, so we also check an interpreter's French, since many legal terms spoken in Sango are French words. If the tribunal or court permits it, a video interpreter can take part from elsewhere in the country.
How to book a Sangho 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 Sango language
Sango is a creole based on Ngbandi, a Ubangian language. It is spoken mainly in the Central African Republic. Sango is an official language of the Central African Republic, with French.
Sango is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Sango is spoken by nearly everyone in the Central African Republic, which is unusual among African countries.
| Name in Sango | Sängö |
|---|---|
| Language family | Creole based on Ngbandi, a Ubangian language |
| Where it is spoken | The Central African Republic |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | sg |
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Sangho interpreters near you
We send Sangho 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.
Sangho interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Sangho 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 Sangho interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Sangho 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 Sangho 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 Sangho 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 Sangho interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
