Tektiteko interpreting and translation

Interpreting options for Tektiteko speakers

Tektiteko has relatively few speakers, and many members of the community also use Spanish and, in some cases, Mam. We ask the client which language they are most comfortable in. Some Tektiteko speakers understand Mam well, and a Mam interpreter from a neighbouring area may be an option if the client confirms good comprehension; Spanish is another possibility for clients fluent in it. For asylum interviews and medical consultations, we record the arrangement and check understanding as the session goes on.

When a Tektiteko interpreter is needed, remote video is the most practical way to work, through the SILA Linguists® app or the video service your organisation uses, while shorter matters can be handled by phone, day or night. Each interview proceeds turn by turn, and a client who would feel easier with a woman, or with a man, only has to say so.

Tektiteko translation and certified translation

Tektiteko is written with Guatemala's official Mayan alphabet, but few written materials exist. Translations are therefore reviewed by a community language specialist, and for important information we often recommend pairing a short text with an audio recording. Typical requests include health notices, school materials and appointment letters.

Civil documents from Guatemala and Mexico are in Spanish. We put birth certificates, identity papers and court records into English and certify each one with a signed declaration, accepted by UK authorities for a tribunal or a Home Office application, and by colleges and employers.

Transcription and language analysis

Tektiteko interviews and recordings come back as time-coded transcripts with English alongside, and any Mam or Spanish is labelled as such. In asylum cases where it matters whether a speaker comes from Tectitán, Cuilco or the Chiapas side of the border, specialist analysts can carry out a LADO assessment of the person's speech.

Where we can help in Tektiteko

Our vetted, trained and qualified Tektiteko linguists can support asylum casework teams, refugee charities, hospitals, GP surgeries, schools and community projects. SILA Linguists® gives every request one coordinator, and each linguist is held to an NDA and to UK GDPR, important for clients from a small community straddling the border.