Kurdish interpreters and translation services.
Kurdish is spoken across parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria and, with Arabic, is one of Iraq's two official languages under the Iraqi Constitution. Its main varieties, Kurmanji and Sorani, differ enough that the interpreter must match the witness, and they are usually written in different alphabets. AMS supplies Kurdish interpreters for depositions, remote by Zoom or phone, for court reporting firms and the law firms they serve. Kurdish is not one of California's certified court languages, so tell us about the proceeding and we will match a qualified interpreter.
Most quote requests are answered within 10 minutes.
Kurdish varieties and dialects we handle
Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish)
Spoken in Turkey, Syria, and parts of northern Iraq and Iran. The Turkish and Syrian tradition writes it in a Latin alphabet; in Iraq and Iran it is often written in an Arabic-based script.
Badini (Bahdini)
The Kurmanji of Iraq's Duhok region, where it is usually written in an Arabic-based alphabet.
Sorani (Central Kurdish)
Spoken in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, including Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, and in northwestern Iran, including Iran's Kurdistan province and the Mahabad area, and written in an Arabic-based alphabet.
Southern Kurdish and other varieties
Southern Kurdish varieties such as Feyli, and the closely related Zazaki and Gorani (including Hawrami), whose speakers often identify as Kurdish, are less common. Tell us where the client is from.
What we do in Kurdish
Legal interpreting
Depositions, EUOs, IMEs, arbitrations, mediations, and trials in state and federal court.
Medical interpreting
IMEs, AME and QME panels, psychological evaluations, hospital interpreting, and workers-compensation medical appointments.
Document translation
Certified translation of legal documents, medical records, USCIS submissions, academic transcripts, and corporate materials.
Audio transcription
Verbatim transcription of depositions, recorded statements, surveillance audio, and recorded interviews.
Video remote interpreting (VRI)
Same-day VRI for telehealth, remote depositions, and any matter where on-site is not practical.
Conference and corporate interpreting
Simultaneous and consecutive interpreting for trade shows, internal meetings, and major events.
Kurdish services AMS provides
Why AMS for Kurdish
Built around remote depositions
Nearly all of AMS's Kurdish assignments are remote depositions, for court reporting firms and the law firms they serve, in cases across the country.
One point of contact, anytime online scheduling
Request a quote online anytime and keep one scheduling contact from quote through invoice. For short-notice requests, call our office at (800) 919-2029.
Kurmanji, Badini, or Sorani, matched
We confirm the witness's variety before we assign an interpreter, because Kurmanji and Sorani speakers do not always follow each other well.
Kurdish interpreting questions, answered
Does California certify Kurdish court interpreters?
No. Kurdish is not on the Judicial Council of California's list of certified spoken languages. The Judicial Council's list of registered languages names Kurdish-Kurmanji, and it treats every non-certified language, Sorani included, as a registered language. AMS supplies qualified Kurdish interpreters; ask about a specific interpreter's credentials when you request a quote.
Kurmanji or Sorani: which interpreter do I need?
It depends on where the witness is from. Kurds from Turkey and Syria, and from Iraq's Duhok region (Badini), usually speak Kurmanji, though some Kurds from eastern Turkey speak Zazaki. Kurds from Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Iran's Kurdistan province, and the Mahabad area usually speak Sorani, and Kurds from Kermanshah and Ilam often speak Southern Kurdish. Ask the witness or the attorney, and tell us when you book.
Does AMS provide Kurdish interpreters for depositions?
Yes. Depositions are nearly all of AMS's Kurdish work, remote by Zoom or phone, for cases across the country.
Is there a federal court certification for Kurdish?
No. The federal courts' interpreter certification program covers Spanish; the programs for Navajo and Haitian Creole are no longer offered. Federal courts use professionally qualified or language-skilled interpreters for Kurdish.
Further reading
Which California languages need a certified interpreter
How the designated language list works, how to verify the current position yourself, and what to do when a language is not on it.
Certified or registered: which you may use at a deposition
The tier is set by statute and turns on whether the Judicial Council has designated the language.
What is a certified court interpreter, and why does it matter?
The three working tiers of court interpreter, and the consequences of hiring the wrong one.
California Court Interpreter Program: what counts as certified
How California certifies court interpreters, what languages are covered.
Court interpreter ethics: the four canons
The ethical standards that govern interpreter conduct in legal proceedings.
How to hire a medical interpreter for an IME
A practical checklist for scheduling medical interpretation.
Video remote interpreting (VRI): when it works and when it does not
A practical guide to choosing between on-site, telephonic, and video remote interpreting.
Certified vs. notarized translation: what each one means
The most common translation document statuses, explained for non-specialists.
Schedule a Kurdish interpreter
Same-day Kurdish interpreting is available. Request a quote or call our scheduling team.
Most quote requests are answered within 10 minutes.