Faroese interpreting and translation

Faroese interpreting at sea, in hospital and in court

Most Faroese speakers also speak Danish, and many speak English, so interpreting is usually requested when someone wants to use their first language in a medical, legal or emotional conversation, for example an islander undergoing hospital treatment abroad, or a crew member giving an account after a maritime incident. Relay through Danish is used only if the client agrees.

Video interpreting works particularly well for Faroese, connecting speakers on the islands, at sea or in Denmark with professionals elsewhere through the SILA Linguists® video app or the software you normally use for calls. Telephone interpreting can be arranged at any hour for urgent hospital or port situations. Our interpreters are prepared for incident investigations, inspections and contract negotiations in fishing, aquaculture and shipping, and we provide consecutive interpreting for cultural exchange visits, tourism and events.

Translating Faroese documents and culture

Official documents from the Faroe Islands may be in Faroese, Danish or both. Our translators know Faroese place names, which often differ from older Danish forms, and keep personal names exactly as in identity documents. Certified translations of civil records, medical reports, court papers and academic transcripts carry our signed declaration of accuracy, accepted by the courts, the Home Office, colleges and other UK authorities.

We also translate cultural, academic and business material: ballad and folklore collections, music liner notes, tourism content, fisheries and aquaculture reports, and maritime contracts. For tourism and culture, we can localise websites and visitor materials from Faroese or into it.

Faroese transcription and subtitling

Folklore and music projects often hold recordings of traditional chain dance ballads, kvæði, and oral history. We transcribe these with time codes and translate them into English, preserving verse structure where needed, and subtitle Faroese film and documentary for international audiences.

Sectors we support in Faroese

Our vetted, trained and qualified Faroese linguists can support fishing, aquaculture and shipping companies, insurers handling maritime claims, hospitals, courts and solicitors, universities and folklore archives, and tourism and cultural organisations. SILA Linguists® arranges each assignment through one coordinator, matches Faroese linguists to the subject and protects every file under confidentiality agreements and UK GDPR.