African Transcription Services - Absolute Translations
0333 577 0767

African Transcription Services

You’ve been sourcing African transcription services, but have found very few companies able to deal with such a wealth of dialects and tongues. Don’t fret! We’ve been transcribing content from widely spoken African languages to some of the rarest African dialects for 20+ years. Our clients include government organisations and international charities such as OxfamSave the Children and Christian Aid, to media organisations such as Channel 5, the BBC and Discovery Channel.

ISO

ISO 17100 The first UK translation company to achieve this specialist translation accreditation. ISO 9001 international processes accreditation.

ISO17100 & ISO9001
Accredited

10KSB

Selected by Goldman Sachs to be an exclusive member of its £500 million productivity & growth investment programme.

Goldman Sachs
10KSB Member

ATC

There to re-enforce our commitment to the highest standards of business ethics and translation quality.

ATC & EUATC
Member

20+

Celebrating 20+ years, Absolute Translations has become synonymous with providing quality translations at transparent low prices.

20 Years’
Expertise

GDPR

Absolute Translations is registered to have its information and security systems independently regulated for GDPR compliance

Information Security
Systems Regulated


As trusted by


African Transcription for all your projects

From news footage, documentaries, official information films, promotional media and interviews, to focus groups, meetings, conferences, speeches and even courtroom transcriptions, Absolute Translations can handle your full range of audio-visual transcription projects. All our translators are native speakers familiar with regional variations, vocabularies and dialects. They’re often also specialists in a particular field, so if for example you need a courtroom transcript from an African language, we can connect you with a specialist legal translator who is used to legal vocabulary and requirements.



African transcription for global brands

We are trusted by some of the world’s most recognisable brands to deliver accurate, fast transcriptions and subtitling in a huge range of African languages. From international broadcasters and filmmakers to global market research companies and government agencies, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality transcription to our clients, who trust us to ensure accuracy, speed and value for money. What’s more, we can offer flexible and expediated turnaround times including same-day transcription for urgent and time-sensitive projects.


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4.8 out of 5 |
Based on 2053 reviews

Showing our 5 star reviews

15 hours ago

This was my second time usi…

This was my second time using Absolute, and in the future it will always be my first choice. Profess…

Emma
6 days ago

Best value for translations…

Speedy, friendly and comparately cheaper than other providers.

Juan David Lopez
6 days ago

Excellent Service

Excellent Service

GC
2 weeks ago

On schedule and good commun…

On schedule and good communication from the team

D. Nurseptian
2 weeks ago

Fast and professional trans…

Fast and professional translation + friendly support!

Daniel Haida
2 weeks ago

Speedy service

Needed a translation of spanish probate for my uk solicitor. Checked the trust pilot reviews, pick…

Jane Mason
2 weeks ago

The company is very good, i…

The company is very good, kind, but the company is best at the helpfulness and great products

Oswald Wasantha Lal Hetti Arac
3 weeks ago

It was completed on time

The check that your nemes are correct before they start

Israel
3 weeks ago

Fantastic service

Can’t fault this company. Their response is quick and professional. Will certainly use them again.

Marguerite Bullock
3 weeks ago

I am highly satisfied with …

I am highly satisfied with the translation services provided by their company for all my certificate…

Danne W.
3 weeks ago

The team are so professiona…

The team are so professional and so flexible with all your request. KUDOZ to this team. Keep it up …

MB
4 weeks ago

Pleasant serrvice

Pleasant serrvice. Quick and easy. Reasonably priced.

Anna-Sofie Warmington
4 weeks ago

Great service

Great service , and very polite ,which is almost non existing ,anymore.

Mr Klog
4 weeks ago

great quality and speed of …

great quality and speed of service. thank you.

customer
4 weeks ago

The extra mile

I needed a certified proofread of a translation for court in Singapore. The Singaporeans are very pe…

AESI
4 weeks ago

Easy quick and good price

Easy quick and good price. Thanks

Ibrahim alhaggo
1 month ago

Great Customer service!

Great Customer service!

HC
1 month ago

Quick response from the com…

Quick response from the company, they were able to complete the task on time.

Neet
1 month ago

This company is brilliant

This company is brilliant! Very professional and top notch! Very pleased with services. Myself neede…

Rita Rimeikiene
1 month ago

Consistently good service

I have been impressed with the organisation, speed of project sign-on and completion.

Dawn Stallwood

HOW MANY LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN AFRICA?

The African continent has the highest linguistic diversity in the world, with an estimated 2,000 spoken languages and an additional 8,000 dialects that fall into six major linguistic families each with a different geographic distribution: AFRO-ASIATIC, NILO-SAHARAN, KHOISAN, NIGER-CONGO, AUSTRONESIAN and INDO-EUROPEAN

Our network of local native-speakers support your business with its African language goals with a comprehensive and reliable transcription service in the majority of Africa’s languages and dialects.

WHAT IS THE MOST SPOKEN LANGUAGE IN AFRICA?

Swahili, known as a ‘Bantu’ language is said to have originated from other languages such as Arabic and is the most spoken language in Africa. With around 150 million speakers, Swahili is the official language of Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. The Swahili language is also spoken in many other countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Sudan, northern Mozambique and the Comoros Islands.

Along with Arabic which is the world’s sixth most spoken language and also has 150 million Arabic speakers in Africa, Swahili is thought to be Africa’s most spoken language. 

WHAT AFRICAN LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS CAN BE TRANSCRIBED?

Absolute Translations is the UK’s leading translation company for African transcription services, with 20+ years’ experience transcribing content in many African languages. From widely spoken African languages such as Arabic, Somali, Yoruba, Shona, Swahili, Aramaic or Tswana, to rarer African languages or dialect such as the Ethiopian dialect Sidaama or the Benin tribal language Bariba. So if you’re looking for African transcription in a rare language or dialect, our professional team will work to connect you with a native speaker, even where other agencies may have failed.

HOW CAN I GUARANTEE THE QUALITY OF MY AFRICAN TRANSCRIPTIONIST?

Our translators and transcriptionists all have a minimum of five years’ experience translating in their native language, and our unique ISO 17100:2015 certification, which is awarded only to linguistic service providers of the highest quality, is your guarantee that we’ll always deliver the best standard of work for the most affordable prices.

Our extensive translator network covers even the rarest African languages but our emphasis is always firmly on customer service, that’s why we invest in new technologies to increase efficiency and aim to deliver a premium service whatever your requirements.

So, whether you need transcription from Amharic or Oromo, spoken in Ethiopia and by 2 million Ethiopians living elsewhere in the world, or from Swahili, the official language of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, or Yoruba with its numerous dialects, spoken in Nigeria, Togo and Benin, we can connect you with a local experienced transcriber who will be able to translate your content accurately and fast.