Kituba interpreting and translation

Kituba interpreters for both Congos

Tell us whether the client comes from Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu or Mai-Ndombe in the DRC, or from Pointe-Noire, Niari, Bouenza or Kouilou in the Republic of the Congo. The two national varieties differ in detail, and an interpreter from the same side of the river will catch local terms more readily.

Our Kituba interpreters attend asylum interviews, legal advice sessions, court hearings, GP and hospital appointments and school meetings in person, and work remotely by phone at any hour, or on a video link. Most Kituba speakers also speak French and often Lingala; if a client chooses another language for a particular appointment, we record that choice and book accordingly. Female or male interpreters are available on request, and we can keep the same interpreter for a family across a series of appointments where continuity helps.

Translation and certified translation

Birth certificates, judgments and school records from both countries are issued in French, so certified translation for UK authorities is normally from French, with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as the Home Office, courts and universities, and by employers.

Kituba translation is particularly useful for public health information, consent forms, school letters and community notices. It is written in the Latin alphabet, mostly for radio, church and education, and spelling varies, so we agree at the outset whether to follow DRC or Republic of the Congo conventions. With fewer noun classes and a simpler verb system than Kikongo, and many French borrowings, Kituba also lends itself to plain-language public messaging.

Transcription and LADO

We transcribe Kituba audio and video with time stamps and English translation, labelling French and Lingala passages. SILA Linguists® can also arrange language analysis for the determination of origin (LADO) where a client's Congolese origin needs expert assessment.

Settings for our linguists in Kituba

Our vetted, trained and qualified Kituba linguists can support immigration and asylum teams, legal advisers and courts, health services and public health campaigns, schools and family services. A named coordinator looks after each request, and every Kituba linguist we send has been vetted and has signed a non-disclosure agreement in line with UK GDPR.