Zaghawa (Beria) interpreting and translation

Direct Zaghawa interpreting for asylum and health

Many Zaghawa speakers can communicate in Chadian or Sudanese Arabic, and some Chadians use French, but proficiency varies widely. Women and older speakers in particular may rely on Zaghawa alone. We check with the client before an Arabic interpreter is considered, and for asylum interviews, appeals and legal advice we strongly prefer direct Zaghawa interpreting; relay through Arabic is only discussed where nothing else is possible.

Accounts from Darfur often include violence, loss and long journeys, so our interpreters work at a steady pace, interpret everything said and remain neutral. Remote interpreting by telephone or video is often the quickest way to reach an experienced Zaghawa interpreter: phone sessions can start whatever the hour, and video works through the SILA Linguists® app or the platform your service already uses. In-person attendance is arranged for tribunals and mental health appointments where possible, and clients may request a female or male interpreter.

Beria script, written Zaghawa and certified documents

Zaghawa has been written in several ways. A distinctive Beria alphabet has been devised, drawing on traditional livestock brands, and Latin and Arabic-based spellings are also used. Written material remains limited, so for community information we often recommend recorded audio, and personal statements are usually translated from the spoken word into English.

Most documents from Chad and Sudan are in Arabic or French. We certify translations of those records with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by universities, the Home Office, recruiters and other UK authorities, spelling Zaghawa names consistently throughout the bundle.

Transcription, LADO and nationality assessment

Interview recordings and audio evidence in Zaghawa are transcribed with timestamps and then translated into English, with Arabic passages clearly marked. Zaghawa is highly relevant to origin questions, and SILA Linguists® provides language analysis to establish origin (LADO) together with nationality assessment, carried out by specialist analysts familiar with Darfur and eastern Chad.

Where our Zaghawa linguists work

Our vetted, trained and qualified Zaghawa linguists can support asylum and immigration solicitors, tribunals, healthcare and mental health services, refugee charities and humanitarian agencies working in Chad and Sudan. A single coordinator handles each case, and confidentiality is assured through signed agreements and UK GDPR.