Looking for expert Wolof translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been providing professional translation services between English and Wolof to clients worldwide. We specialize in various industries, including legal, technical, marketing, and business sectors. Our skilled team ensures accurate, high-quality translations tailored to your specific needs. Contact us today for a fast, free Wolof translation quote!
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Wolof language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Wolof translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or polished work for most professional or formal contexts. While generally of high quality, simple translations are "rough drafts" that do not undergo further editing, proofreading, or quality control. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts, or situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning of a Wolof text.Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Wolof Translation service provides high-quality translations for everyday use, such as business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and more. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure clarity and accuracy in your Wolof communications.Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Wolof Translation service is designed for texts where accuracy is crucial. This service is ideal for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts, medical records, or any situation where errors could be critical. Each translation is reviewed by at least three linguists and goes through multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) are involved when necessary throughout the Wolof translation, editing, and proofreading process.Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Wolof translation involves editing a text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Wolof language pair. The editor, fluent in both languages, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while maintaining clarity and fluency in Wolof. This step takes place after the initial translation in our TEP services and is also available as a standalone option for translations completed by other providers.Proofreading
Our proofreading service for English to Wolof and Wolof to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) services, but we also offer proofreading as a standalone service.Legal Translation
Green Crescent’s expert linguists, with specialized knowledge in legal terminology, are available to assist with the translation of legal documents between English and Wolof. We prioritize confidentiality and accuracy for every legal translation project, with additional security measures available upon request.Technical Translation
Technical translations involve texts with specialized terminology, including legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT documents. Our Wolof technical translation services ensure linguistic and technical accuracy, requiring the expertise of linguists who specialize in the relevant field.Medical Translation
Green Crescent’s medical translation services adhere to regulatory standards, ensuring the accuracy and confidentiality of sensitive medical documents. Our team of skilled linguists specializes in medical terminology, providing precise and secure Wolof medical translations.Localization
Our localization services adapt content for specific Wolof-speaking markets, ensuring that your message resonates with the intended audience. Whether you need localization for websites, apps, or marketing materials, our expert translators ensure accuracy and cultural relevance for Wolof-speaking regions.MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full involves detailed post-editing of a machine-translated text between English and Wolof. A skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the content, correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology, ensuring the highest linguistic quality. MTPE-Full is ideal for business-critical documents requiring precision and clarity.MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light is a streamlined post-editing process designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are priorities. The editor focuses on fixing major errors and ensuring that the overall meaning is clear, making it suitable for internal documents or non-critical content.Additional Language Services and Options for Wolof
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 Wolof and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official purposes. 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 such requests. However, rushing translations may come with trade-offs, such as price adjustments or slight consistency variations. Please consult with a project manager for more details.Discounts
We offer volume discounts for large projects, long-term clients, and non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations needing Wolof translation services.Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which may be reduced or waived for regular clients, depending on the scope of work.Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a variety of other Wolof language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.About the Wolof Language
Wolof, known locally as "Wollof" or "Wolof," is the most widely spoken language in Senegal and has significant speakers in The Gambia and Mauritania. While it is not the official language of Senegal, Wolof serves as the lingua franca across the country and is essential for daily communication. The language has deep cultural significance, with influences from Arabic and French due to colonial history, trade, and religious ties. Wolof is primarily an oral language, but it is also written using the Latin alphabet, which was introduced during the colonial period.
The Cultural Context, History, and Linguistic Features of Wolof
Wolof has its roots in the Senegambian region and has evolved through centuries of interaction with neighboring cultures and languages. The language is heavily influenced by Arabic, particularly in its religious and cultural lexicon, due to the strong presence of Islam in the region. French has also impacted Wolof, especially in legal, educational, and administrative contexts.
One of the most important aspects of Wolof culture is its oral tradition, where stories, poetry, and history are passed down through generations. This makes translation into and from Wolof particularly nuanced, as maintaining the rhythm, tone, and cultural relevance of the language is critical.
The Writing System: Latin Script
Wolof is written using the Latin script, introduced during the French colonial period. Unlike many other African languages that use indigenous scripts, Wolof's written form is relatively modern, with spelling conventions influenced by French. This creates challenges in translation, especially in capturing the oral nuances of the language.
Vowels and Consonants: Wolof has 10 vowels and 23 consonants. The language features long and short vowels, which can change the meaning of words. For instance, the word "jéém" (to try) and "jëm" (to go) differ only by vowel length. Translating such distinctions requires careful attention to ensure clarity and accuracy.
Wolof Alphabet
Wolof uses the Latin alphabet, consisting of the following letters:
- Consonants: B, b, C, c, D, d, F, f, G, g, H, h, J, j, K, k, L, l, M, m, N, n, Ñ, ñ, P, p, Q, q, R, r, S, s, T, t, W, w, X, x, Y, y, Z, z
- Vowels: A, a, E, e, Ë, ë, I, i, O, o, U, u
The Latin script, while relatively simple, must account for Wolof's rich oral traditions. Translators need to ensure that written Wolof preserves the meaning and rhythm inherent in the spoken form.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Wolof and English for Translation
When translating between Wolof and English, several linguistic and cultural differences must be considered to ensure accuracy and cultural appropriateness. Some of the most significant differences include:
Sentence Structure: Wolof follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) sentence structure, which is similar to English. However, Wolof frequently employs verb focus constructions that place emphasis on the action, which can change the typical sentence order. For example, "I
An Insight into Wolof Expression
This passage is from Les Bouts de Bois de Dieu by Ousmane Sembène, first published in 1960. This novel is a powerful work in 20th-century Wolof and Senegalese literature, depicting the struggle of railroad workers against colonial powers, highlighting themes of solidarity, resistance, and justice.
- Wolof: "Njàng mooy jéem ci ngor, tey wut yitt."
- English Translation: "Education is an effort toward dignity, and a search for freedom."