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Nuer (Thok Naath) interpreters on site for appointments, hearings and meetings.
African languages
Nuer (Thok Naath) interpreting and translation
Nuer is a Western Nilotic language of South Sudan and western Ethiopia. Its speakers call it Thok Naath, meaning the language of the Naath, the name the Nuer people use for themselves.
In its own words
Thok Naath
- Script
- Latin
- Direction
- Left to right
- ISO 639-3
nus
Nuer is spoken across the floodplains of the Upper Nile in South Sudan, including parts of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states, and in the Gambela region of Ethiopia. Large Nuer-speaking communities also live in refugee settlements in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, and in diaspora communities in North America, Australia, the UK and Europe.
The language belongs to the Western Nilotic branch and is related to Dinka and to Atuot, though Nuer and Dinka are separate languages that speakers do not generally understand without learning. Nuer has many regional varieties, often associated with particular sections of the community, such as Lou, Jikany (Eastern and Western), Gawaar, Bul, Leek and others. Differences between them are mainly in vocabulary and pronunciation.
Nuer has a rich sound system, with contrasts of vowel length, voice quality and tone that are central to meaning. This is one reason why the language is challenging for non-native speakers and why matching an interpreter's variety to the client's matters.
- Main areas: South Sudan (Upper Nile, Unity, Jonglei)
- Also used: Ethiopia (Gambela)
- Other regions
Communities abroad are not shown. Point to an area to see its name.
How we help
Nuer (Thok Naath) services
Video (VRI)
Secure video interpreting when people are in different places.
Telephone, 24/7
Telephone interpreting 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Certified translation
Certified Nuer (Thok Naath) translation accepted by UK authorities.
SILA Linguists®
Nuer (Thok Naath) interpreters and translators from SILA Linguists®
Nuer, Thok Naath to its speakers, is spoken across the Upper Nile floodplains of South Sudan, in parts of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states, and in Ethiopia's Gambela region, as well as in refugee settlements in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda and diaspora communities in North America, Australia, the UK and Europe. SILA Linguists® provides Nuer interpreting, translation and transcription for asylum and resettlement, maternity and primary care, mental health, police, courts, probation, schools and humanitarian work, matching the interpreter to the speaker's variety wherever possible.
Thok Naath interpreting with confidentiality at its core
Tell us where the speaker comes from in South Sudan or Ethiopia and, if they are happy to share it, which variety they speak, and we will aim for a close match. Nuer and Dinka are related but separate languages that speakers do not generally understand without learning, so we never substitute one for the other. Many Nuer speakers also use Juba Arabic, Sudanese Arabic, English or Amharic, but proficiency varies widely, and for legal, medical and asylum work Thok Naath is usually the most reliable choice.
Community ties are close, and clients may worry about confidentiality if the interpreter belongs to their community. Every SILA Linguists® interpreter works under a strict non-disclosure agreement, and remote interpreting by telephone or video can bring in a linguist from another region or country. Our phone service runs through every hour of the day, and video works in our own app or your platform. Face-to-face, consecutive and community interpreting are available, and a male or female interpreter can be arranged for maternity care and mental health sessions.
Nuer translation and audio alternatives
Nuer orthography has been adapted over time by mission and community educators, so spelling conventions vary. Our translators write in the conventions most familiar to your readers and check that special letters and diacritics display correctly. For health information, consent forms and community notices, recorded audio often reaches more people than print.
Official documents from South Sudan are usually in English or Arabic. We translate and certify Arabic records with a signed accuracy statement, accepted by UK authorities such as courts and universities, and by employers. English or Arabic records needed in the United States, Canada or Australia are certified as each authority asks, NAATI included for Australia.
Transcription and LADO
We transcribe Nuer interviews and recordings with time codes and an English version alongside, marking Arabic passages. For protection claims, we also offer language analysis for the determination of origin (LADO).
Sectors we support in Nuer
Our vetted, trained and qualified Nuer linguists can support asylum and resettlement teams, NHS maternity and mental health services, police, courts and probation, schools, family services and humanitarian researchers. You keep one point of contact and vetted linguists, with data handled under UK GDPR. Nuer interpreters can support resettled families in the US, Canada and Australia at courts, refugee hearings, clinics and schools.
Good to know
Working with Nuer (Thok Naath)
Interpreting
- When booking, tell us where the speaker comes from in South Sudan or Ethiopia, and, if they are happy to share it, which variety they speak. We aim to match the interpreter to that variety.
- Many Nuer speakers also use Arabic (often Juba Arabic or Sudanese Arabic), English or Amharic, but proficiency varies widely. For legal, medical and asylum work, interpreting in Thok Naath is usually the most reliable option.
- Community ties are close, and clients may be concerned about confidentiality when the interpreter is from the same community. All our linguists work under strict confidentiality and NDAs, and remote interpreting by video or telephone can be arranged if a client prefers someone outside their local area.
- Some clients prefer an interpreter of the same gender, particularly for gynaecological, maternity or sensitive personal matters. Please mention this when you book.
Translation
- Nuer is written in a Latin-based alphabet with additional letters and diacritics to represent its vowels and consonants. The orthography has been adapted over time by mission and community educators, so spelling conventions vary between publications.
- Printed material in Nuer is limited compared with major languages. For health information, consent forms and community notices, we recommend a translator who writes in the conventions most familiar to the intended readers, with checks for correct display of special characters. Audio and video materials can be a good alternative for readers with limited literacy.
Related languages
Nuer (Thok Naath) and its neighbours
Choose a language to see its page. Getting the right variety matters: tell us the region or dialect if you know it.
Where Nuer (Thok Naath) is often needed
- Asylum interviews, appeals and resettlement
- Maternity, mental health and primary care
- Police, courts and probation
- Schools and family services
- Humanitarian and research work with South Sudanese communities
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Get in touch
Need a Nuer (Thok Naath) interpreter or translator?
Our bookings team will confirm the details with you and arrange the right linguist. Have the language (and dialect, if you know it), the type of assignment and the date ready.