Xhosa (isiXhosa) interpreting and translation

isiXhosa interpreters, never a Zulu stand-in

isiXhosa and isiZulu are partly mutually intelligible, but they differ in vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, and speakers regard them as separate languages, so we never book a Zulu interpreter for an isiXhosa speaker. Many isiXhosa speakers are fluent in English, yet people usually express themselves more fully in their first language in medical, legal and emotionally difficult conversations.

Respect is expressed through forms of address and, in some families, through hlonipha, the custom of avoiding certain words, traditionally observed particularly by married women. Our interpreters recognise the substitute words and render them correctly. We interpret in hospitals, mental health services, police interviews and court proceedings, schools and universities, in person, by telephone at any hour of the day, or by video in our SILA Linguists® app or Teams, Zoom or similar. Conferences, research workshops and corporate events can be covered with consecutive, simultaneous or remote simultaneous interpreting.

isiXhosa translation, localisation and certification

isiXhosa is written conjunctively, with prefixes joined to the word, so words are often long and translated text can differ markedly in length from English. We plan for that in forms, layouts and subtitles. We translate patient information, educational content, research materials and legal documents, and we localise websites, apps and marketing campaigns for South African consumers, with AI-assisted translation and human post-editing available for high volumes.

Many South African documents are issued in English or bilingually. Where an isiXhosa document must be certified, our translation includes a signed statement confirming accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as courts and universities, and by employers.

Transcription and subtitling

Media, interviews and research recordings in isiXhosa are transcribed with timings marked and an English translation supplied, with click consonants and long words handled accurately. We subtitle documentaries, drama and online video for South African and international viewers, allowing for line length and reading speed.

Sectors we support in isiXhosa

Our vetted, trained and qualified isiXhosa linguists can support healthcare and mental health providers, police and courts, legal practitioners, universities and researchers, media companies and brands. SILA Linguists® provides a named coordinator, and signed confidentiality agreements and UK GDPR protect every file.