Kachin interpreting and translation

Jinghpaw interpreters for protection, health and study

Many Kachin families have been displaced by conflict in northern Myanmar, and our interpreters are prepared for asylum and protection interviews, mental health appointments, GP visits, court hearings and college enrolment. Remote interpreting by telephone runs at any hour, weekends and holidays included, video interpreting connects through the SILA Linguists® app or your platform, and face-to-face interpreters attend longer or sensitive sessions.

Jinghpaw uses polite forms and kinship terms with care, and respect for older people shows in every exchange. Interpreters who keep the right tone help clients describe distressing events clearly. If the client speaks Lisu, Rawang or another Kachin language, or is more confident in Burmese, tell us early and we will discuss the best arrangement. Female or male interpreters are available on request.

Kachin translation and certified Burmese documents

Jinghpaw is written in a Latin alphabet devised by missionaries, with combinations such as hp, ht and hk for aspirated consonants; getting these right matters for names and place names. Chinese Jingpo publishing uses a closely related spelling. We translate letters, consent forms, school reports and community guidance into Jinghpaw.

Myanmar identity papers, household lists and educational records are issued in Burmese, so certified translation is produced from Burmese, with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as the Home Office, courts and universities. For Australia we arrange NAATI-certified translation of Burmese papers; for the United States, a signed certificate of accuracy.

Transcription and language analysis for Kachin cases

Recorded testimony, interviews and church or community recordings are transcribed, time-coded and translated into English. For asylum claims, language analysis (LADO) can be carried out by specialist analysts to support findings about a speaker's origin. Our transcribers mark any passages in Burmese, Lisu or English and spell personal and place names using the standard Jinghpaw conventions.

Where we can help in Kachin

Our vetted, trained and qualified Kachin linguists can support immigration and asylum services, humanitarian organisations, mental health teams, schools and colleges, solicitors and courts, and church and community organisations. You have one project coordinator, vetted linguists and full confidentiality under NDAs and UK GDPR. We can also prepare audio and print materials for health promotion projects reaching Kachin congregations. Kachin interpreters can assist American and Australian resettlement services, hospitals, schools and courts, by telephone or video.