Looking for expert Tausug translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been providing professional translation services between English and Tausug to clients worldwide. We specialize in various sectors, including legal, business, community, and marketing. Our team ensures precise, high-quality translations tailored to your specific needs. Get a fast, free Tausug translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Tausug Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Tausug translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We provide translations tailored to the linguistic intricacies of Tausug, ensuring cultural and contextual accuracy across different dialects.
- Standard Tausug (Sulu Archipelago)
- Regional Tausug variations (Mindanao and Sabah)
We specialize in both English to Tausug and Tausug to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Tausug language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Tausug 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 other quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts that will later be revised, or for situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Tausug text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Tausug 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 Tausug communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Tausug Translation service is designed for situations where precision is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, legal contracts, 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 Tausug translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Tausug Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Tausug language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Tausug, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Tausug. 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
Our proofreading service for English to Tausug and Tausug 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 legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Tausug and English. We can also 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, and IT topics. These translations require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Tausug and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent provides professional Tausug medical translations with a focus on accuracy and confidentiality. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both precise and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require localized varieties of the Tausug language. Green Crescent ensures that your content resonates with the intended audience. Our experienced linguists provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging.
Back-translation
Back-translation is a crucial component of quality control, particularly for critical translations in the Tausug/English language pair. This process involves translating a previously translated text back into its original language, either Tausug or English, and comparing the result to the original translation for accuracy.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional peer review services where one or more linguists not involved in the original translation process assess the quality, style, and overall fitness of the translation for its intended purpose.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with expertise in specific fields. This process ensures that Tausug to English or English to Tausug translations of highly technical texts are both linguistically accurate and technically precise.
Transcreation
Our Tausug Transcreation Service adapts your content creatively to resonate with Tausug-speaking audiences. We ensure that your brand’s messages maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full involves comprehensive post-editing of machine-generated translations to meet the highest standards of linguistic quality. This includes correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology to ensure the text flows naturally in Tausug or English.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light is a streamlined version of post-editing designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized. The human editor fixes major errors, ensuring the overall meaning is clear and understandable.
Additional Language Services and Options for Tausug
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 much more, in both Tausug 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 such requests. However, please note that rushing translations may come with trade-offs, which could affect both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for more details.
Discounts
Volume discounts are available for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which can be reduced or waived for regular clients.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a range of other Tausug language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Tausug Language
Tausug, known locally as "Bahasa Sūg," is an Austronesian language spoken primarily in the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines, particularly in the provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, as well as parts of Mindanao and Sabah, Malaysia. It serves as the native language of the Tausug people, who are known for their rich cultural heritage and maritime traditions. Tausug is closely related to other languages in the Visayan language group, such as Cebuano, but has distinct features that set it apart. With over 1 million speakers, Tausug is a significant regional language in the southern Philippines.
The Cultural Context, History, and Linguistic Features of Tausug
Tausug has a rich cultural history tied to the maritime traditions of the Tausug people, who have long been seafarers, traders, and warriors in the Sulu Archipelago. The language is deeply intertwined with Islam, which has been the dominant religion in the region for centuries. Arabic has influenced Tausug, particularly in religious and legal terminology, reflecting the integration of Islamic teachings into everyday life.
Tausug is part of the Central Philippine language group, but it has developed its own unique vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural expressions. The language has a strong oral tradition, with storytelling, poetry (kissa), and proverbs (masaalla) being central to the cultural life of the Tausug people. These oral traditions have helped to preserve the language across generations, even as it faces pressures from other languages like Cebuano and Tagalog.
The Writing System: Latin Alphabet and Arabic Script
Tausug can be written using both the Latin alphabet and an adapted form of the Arabic script known as "Jawi." Today, the Latin alphabet is more commonly used in schools and official documents, while Jawi is used in religious contexts and among older generations. The Latin-based orthography of Tausug uses 26 letters, and the writing system is largely phonetic, meaning that words are pronounced as they are spelled.
Vowels and Consonants: Tausug has five vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u) and 21 consonants. It also features unique sounds, such as the glottal stop, which is common in many Philippine languages but may not always be indicated in writing.
The Tausug Alphabet
Tausug is written using the following alphabet:
- 5 vowels: A, a, E, e, I, i, O, o, U, u
- 21 consonants: B, b, D, d, G, g, H, h, J, j, K, k, L, l, M, m, N, n, P, p, R, r, S, s, T, t, W, w, Y, y
Tausug's writing system is phonetic, which means that words are typically pronounced as they are spelled. The language also incorporates a number of loanwords from Arabic, especially in religious and cultural contexts, which are sometimes written using the Jawi script.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Tausug and English for Translation
Several key linguistic features differentiate Tausug from English, and these must be carefully managed in translation to ensure accuracy and cultural appropriateness:
Verb Focus System: Like other Philippine languages, Tausug uses a focus or voice system to indicate the relationship between the verb and its arguments (subject, object, etc.). This system allows for flexibility in how information is presented in a sentence. For example, different verb forms can emphasize the actor, the object, or the location of an action. English does not have a directly equivalent system, so translators must ensure that the intended emphasis is conveyed accurately.
Word Order: Tausug generally follows a Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) structure, though it can also use Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) for emphasis. This flexibility in word order means that translations must be carefully structured to maintain clarity and readability in English, which typically follows a fixed SVO order.
Reduplication: Reduplication is commonly used in Tausug to indicate intensity, repetition, or plurality. For example, "mata" means "eye," while "mata-mata" can imply "many eyes" or "various kinds of eyes." Translators need to find suitable ways to express these nuanced meanings in English, where reduplication is not a common feature.
Loanwords and Cultural Terms: Tausug contains many loanwords from Arabic, especially for religious and legal terms. For instance, words like "sala" (prayer) and "qadhi" (judge) are derived from Arabic. These terms often carry specific cultural and religious connotations, so translators must decide whether to retain the original word or find an appropriate English equivalent.
Glottal Stops and Vowel Length: The presence of glottal stops and distinctions in vowel length can change the meaning of a word in Tausug. For example, "bato" means "stone," while "ba'to" (with a glottal stop) means "this stone." These subtleties are not marked in English spelling, so translators must ensure that the context makes the meaning clear.
Honorifics and Politeness: Tausug places a strong emphasis on politeness and respect, particularly when addressing elders or people in positions of authority. Translators must ensure that the appropriate level of formality and respect is maintained in the English translation, even though English does not have the same system of honorifics.
Pronunciation Variations: Pronunciation of certain consonants and vowels in Tausug can vary between regions, leading to dialectal differences. Translators need to be aware of these variations to ensure that the translated text accurately reflects the intended regional usage.
By addressing these linguistic and cultural differences, Green Crescent ensures that our Tausug translation services provide accurate and culturally sensitive translations. Our approach respects the rich heritage of the Tausug language and ensures clear communication for both Tausug and English-speaking audiences.
An Insight into Tausug Expression
This passage is from the famous Tausug work “Kaliwat Sug” (The Legacy of Sulu) by “Hadji Butu Abdul Baqui”, a foundational figure in Tausug literature. The work explores themes of cultural pride and resilience in the face of hardship.
- Tausug: "Bisan ha kasakit sin panahon, kinahanglan mangadji sin kusog ag magpabilin ha pagtoo."
- English Translation: "Even in the trials of time, one must pray for strength and remain steadfast in faith."