Looking for expert Dari translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been providing professional translation services between English and Dari for clients globally. We specialize in areas such as legal, governmental, medical, and business sectors. Our team ensures precise, culturally relevant translations tailored to your specific needs. Get a fast, free Dari translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Dari Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Dari translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We provide translations tailored to the primary dialects of Dari spoken across various regions, ensuring linguistic and cultural accuracy.
- Dari spoken in Afghanistan
- Dialects of Dari used by Afghan communities in Iran and Pakistan
- Regional Dari variations from different provinces in Afghanistan
We specialize in both English to Dari and Dari to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Dari language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Dari translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or polished work for most professional or formal use cases. While they are typically of high quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts, or for situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Dari text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Dari Translation service is designed to provide high-quality translations for everyday use, including business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and similar content. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Dari communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Dari Translation service is designed for situations where perfection is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts, patents, medical documents, or any case where an error could be critical or costly. Each translated line is reviewed by a minimum of three linguists, with multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) may be involved as needed throughout the Dari translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Dari Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Dari language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Dari, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Dari. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard Translation services. We also offer this service as a standalone option for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Proofreading
With each additional round of editing and proofreading, the error rate of a document approaches perfection. Our proofreading service for English to Dari and Dari to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard translation services. We also offer proofreading as a standalone service for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent's elite team of linguists, each with subject matter expertise in specialized legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Dari and English. Nearly all countries recognize that submitting documents for translation does not compromise attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, we can implement enhanced security measures to ensure strict confidentiality upon request.
Technical Translation
Technical translations involve any text that features specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT topics. These translations require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Dari and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations. Our Dari medical translations are treated as "organization critical," unless otherwise specified, and we are committed to implementing the necessary digital security measures and legal safeguards for every project subject to healthcare regulations. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both accurate and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require non-standard varieties or dialects of the Dari language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Dari translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of regional Dari dialects, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of each Dari dialect, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Dari
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Dari localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Dari-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Dari, our services encompass translating text, adjusting images, and modifying layouts. We also adapt and program code for both mobile and desktop applications, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across Dari-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Dari-speaking users.
Back-translation
Back-translation is often a crucial component of the quality control process, particularly when translating highly technical documents or for critical translations in the Dari/English language pair where an error could have significant consequences. This process involves an independent linguist translating a previously translated text back into its original source language—either Dari or English—without reference to the original document. The resulting text is then compared to the original translation to verify its intelligibility, accuracy, and suitability for its intended use. Back-translation is also relevant in situations such as the translation of legal documents, medical texts, and marketing materials, where precise wording is essential.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional focus group services that include a comprehensive "read-through" conducted by one or more linguists who were not involved in the original translation process. This approach allows for an unbiased assessment of the translation's quality, style, and overall fitness for its intended purpose. The focus group can evaluate various aspects of the text, including linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the messaging in reaching the target audience. Feedback is provided on how well the translation conveys the original intent and nuances of the source material, ensuring that it resonates with readers in both Dari and English contexts.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with deep expertise in specific fields. This process is particularly important for Dari to English or English to Dari translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise. In fields such as legal, medical, scientific, and engineering, SMEs help verify the correct use of industry-specific terminology, adherence to regulatory or technical standards, and the contextual relevance of the translated material.
Transcreation
Our Dari Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Dari-speaking audiences. At Green Crescent, we ensure that your brand’s messages, campaigns, and communications maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone, while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market. Whether it’s marketing, branding, or advertising, we reimagine your content to feel authentic and compelling in Dari, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Dari-speaking audiences.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full) refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Dari and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine generates the translation, a skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the entire content, ensuring that it is not only accurate in meaning but also flows naturally and fluently in the target language. This detailed editing process includes correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology, adapting the text for the intended audience, and ensuring it adheres to any stylistic preferences or regulatory requirements. MTPE-Full is suitable for business-critical texts where precision and quality are paramount.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) is a more streamlined version of post-editing, designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized over linguistic perfection. In this process, the human editor focuses primarily on fixing major errors and ensuring that the overall meaning of the machine-translated text is clear and understandable in the target language (Dari or English). While MTPE-Light may not deliver a translation that is fully refined or ready for publication, it provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for internal documents, reports, and communications where basic comprehension is sufficient.
Additional Language Services and Options for Dari
Certified Translation
Green Crescent provides certified translations of a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and more, in both Dari and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. You can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you require expedited service, Green Crescent can usually accommodate urgent translation requests. However, please note that rushing translations often involves trade-offs, which may affect both price and consistency. Consult with a project manager for more details on the best solutions for your needs.
Discounts
We offer volume discounts for large projects, long-term clients, and organizations such as non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government bodies.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language for Dari translation services. This fee may be reduced or waived for regular clients depending on the scope and nature of the project.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a variety of other Dari language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Dari Language
Dari, one of the two official languages of Afghanistan, is spoken by millions across the country and serves as a critical language for government, education, and media. As a dialect of Persian (Farsi), Dari retains much of the linguistic foundation of classical Persian but has evolved to reflect Afghanistan’s unique cultural and historical context.
Cultural Context and Linguistic Features of Dari
Dari plays a crucial role in Afghan identity and culture, serving as a medium for classical literature, poetry, and modern communication. While Dari shares its roots with Persian, there are notable differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and syntax, influenced by centuries of Afghan history and interaction with neighboring languages like Pashto and Turkic languages. Dari is known for its eloquent and expressive qualities, often used in poetry and formal settings.
Dari’s rich literary tradition dates back centuries, with poets like Rumi, Saadi, and Hafez contributing to its legacy. The language has historically been a vehicle for conveying philosophical, spiritual, and artistic ideas. Today, Dari continues to be a key language in Afghanistan, maintaining its importance in both formal and everyday communication.
The Writing System: Persian Script
Dari is written in a modified version of the **Persian script**, which itself is derived from the Arabic alphabet. The script consists of 32 letters, many of which represent sounds not found in the Arabic language. Unlike English, Dari is written from right to left, and letters change form depending on their position in a word.
Vowels and Consonants: Dari uses a combination of consonants and short/long vowels, similar to other Persian varieties. Vowels are often implied in the script, and diacritical marks (zabar, zer, pesh) can be added to aid pronunciation but are not always included in written texts.
No Capitalization: Like other languages using the Persian script, Dari does not have uppercase or lowercase letters. Context, punctuation, and specific grammatical structures help indicate proper nouns or emphasize important points.
Dari Alphabet and Writing System
The Dari alphabet, adapted from Persian, consists of 32 letters and closely mirrors the Persian script with some regional variations. Each letter corresponds to a particular sound, making the script phonetic in nature. The script relies on diacritics for vowel representation, though they are often omitted in everyday writing.
The Dari alphabet consists of:
- 32 letters: ا, ب, پ, ت, ث, ج, چ, ح, خ, د, ذ, ر, ز, ژ, س, ش, ص, ض, ط, ظ, ع, غ, ف, ق, ک, گ, ل, م, ن, و, ه, ی
- Short vowels are typically represented by diacritical marks, while long vowels are written as part of the script: ا (a), ی (i), و (u).
The script is written from right to left, with letters changing form depending on their placement in a word (initial, medial, or final position). Proper understanding of this writing system is crucial when translating from or to Dari, as it directly impacts the meaning and readability of the text.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Dari and English for Translation
Translating between Dari and English requires a deep understanding of the structural and cultural differences between the two languages. Below are some critical considerations:
Sentence Structure:
Dari generally follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) sentence structure, while English follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure. For example, "I see the book" in English becomes "من کتاب را میبینم" (Man ketab ra mibinam) in Dari, with the verb appearing at the end of the sentence. Translators must adapt this structure to ensure the meaning remains clear.
Gender Neutrality:
Unlike Hindi or Arabic, Dari does not assign gender to nouns, making it simpler in terms of grammatical agreement. However, the absence of gender distinctions must be carefully handled when translating into languages like English, where gender can influence pronouns and other aspects of grammar.
Verb Conjugation and Tense:
While both English and Dari use verb conjugations to express tense, Dari verbs are more complex, often conjugating based on aspect and mood in addition to tense. For example, the verb "to go" in Dari can appear as "میروم" (miravam) for "I am going" or "رفتم" (raftam) for "I went." These distinctions are important for accurately conveying time and context in translations.
Politeness Levels:
Dari uses specific forms to convey respect and politeness, especially when addressing elders or individuals in formal settings. This is often reflected in verb forms and pronouns. While English uses polite language, the directness of English might not always convey the same level of respect, requiring careful attention to tone in translation.
Loanwords and Regional Vocabulary:
Dari has borrowed many words from Arabic, Turkish, and Pashto, which often add layers of meaning based on regional dialects. These loanwords might not have direct English equivalents, and context plays a significant role in determining the best translation. For example, the Arabic word "امید" (omid) means "hope" in both Dari and Persian, but may be used differently in certain contexts, requiring careful cultural adaptation during translation.
By recognizing and adapting to these linguistic differences, translators ensure that the meaning is accurately conveyed and culturally relevant in both languages. Whether translating formal documents or creative content, understanding the complexities of Dari is essential for delivering precise and effective translations.
An Insight into Dari Wit and Expression
This passage is from Earth and Ashes by Atiq Rahimi, first published in 2000. The novella is a poignant and symbolic exploration of grief, loss, and survival during Afghanistan's Soviet occupation, making it one of the most significant works in modern Dari literature.
- Dari: "ما در این جهانِ خاک و خاکستر چه چیزی را نگه میداریم؟"
- English Translation: "What do we hold onto in this world of earth and ashes?"