Laz interpreting and translation

Laz interpreting, and when Turkish is the better choice

Almost every Laz speaker in Turkey is fluent in Turkish, and for many appointments a Turkish interpreter is the practical choice. Laz interpreting comes into its own with older speakers, in family and community matters, at a hospital bedside where an elderly relative feels more at ease in Lazuri, and in research or cultural work. We ask the person which language they prefer and book that.

Video interpreting through the SILA Linguists® app or your own platform, and telephone interpreting around the clock throughout the year, are the most practical ways to reach a speaker of the right dialect. Where a Laz interpreter can attend in person, we arrange face-to-face interpreting, and for cultural events we can provide consecutive interpreting.

Laz translation for heritage and education

In Turkey Laz is written in a Latin alphabet based on Turkish, with additional letters for Laz sounds; in Georgia it has been written in Georgian script. Spelling is not fully standardised, so we agree conventions with you before translation begins and apply them consistently.

Laz translation usually involves cultural, educational and heritage material: books, song lyrics, exhibition texts, teaching resources and project reports. Official documents from Turkey are in Turkish, and our Turkish team provides certified translation of those with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as courts and universities.

Transcribing Laz recordings

Much of the living record of Laz exists only as audio: interviews with village elders, songs, stories and fieldwork recordings. We transcribe these with time stamps, mark dialect features and passages in Turkish, and provide an English translation for researchers, archives and documentation projects. Clear transcripts make endangered-language material searchable and reusable for teaching.

Sectors we support in Laz

Our vetted, trained and qualified Laz specialists can support universities and linguistic research teams, heritage and cultural organisations, museums and archives, and families dealing with community or personal matters. With SILA Linguists® you have one coordinating project team, and your material stays confidential under signed agreements and UK GDPR.