Poqomam interpreting and translation

Poqomam interpreting for each community

The Palín, central (Mixco and Chinautla) and eastern (Jalapa) varieties of Poqomam differ, and an interpreter from the right area makes a real difference to a medical history or a legal statement. Poqomchi' speakers can follow some Poqomam, but that is not a reliable substitute when something important is at stake, and we do not offer it as one.

Urban growth around the capital and the dominance of Spanish have reduced Poqomam use in some places, and younger people in Mixco and Chinautla often speak mainly Spanish. Many Poqomam speakers are therefore bilingual, and we simply ask which language the client prefers. When Poqomam is the answer, remote interpreting is the most practical route: the interpreter joins a video call through the SILA Linguists® app or the system you already have, or dials in by phone, at whatever hour the appointment falls. Hearings and consultations proceed in consecutive mode, and clients choose whether a woman or a man interprets.

Poqomam translation and certified translation

Poqomam follows Guatemala's official Mayan alphabet, in which apostrophes mark glottalised consonants. Our translators are prepared for community, education and cultural projects, such as classroom resources, heritage displays and information sheets, and our translators match the variety of the community the text is for.

Civil documents from Guatemala, including birth and marriage certificates and court papers, are issued in Spanish. Our English translations of them are certified with a signed declaration of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as tribunals, the Home Office and colleges, and by employers.

Transcription and documentation

Because Poqomam use is declining in some communities, recordings of older speakers have lasting value for teachers and cultural organisations. We transcribe interviews, stories and community events into Poqomam text with time codes, add an English or Spanish rendering, and mark which variety is being spoken. Subtitles can be prepared for educational video and local heritage projects.

Sectors we support in Poqomam

Our vetted, trained and qualified Poqomam linguists can support clinics and hospitals, schools and bilingual education programmes, community and cultural organisations, and legal advisers. Every request is looked after by a single SILA Linguists® coordinator, and our linguists sign NDAs and treat personal information in line with UK GDPR, so families in small, close communities can speak freely.