Prism Linguistics provides professional Sango interpreters and certified translation for Central African files across Canada. Sango, sometimes written Sangho, is the national lingua franca of the Central African Republic and is understood by most of its people alongside French. The community in Canada is small and dispersed, and demand is mostly refugee protection and family matters, which we handle chiefly by telephone or video anywhere in the country and, where numbers allow, in person.
Last reviewed September 6, 2026 by the Prism Linguistics editorial team
Sango is a creole-based language written in the Latin alphabet and serves as the everyday shared language of the Central African Republic, while French remains the language of government and formal documents. When you book it helps to say whether the speaker is most comfortable in Sango or in French, because many clients follow ordinary French but want Sango for testimony, consent or anything they would give more precisely in the shared language. Immigration and Refugee Board hearings for Central African claimants are the most common setting.
For Canadian courts and tribunals we confirm what the specific court expects before assigning, since arrangements vary by province and case type. In healthcare and community settings the interpreter renders everything in full rather than summarising, which matters for accounts that may reach back to conflict and displacement. Because the community is small, most assignments are served by telephone or video, which lets us reach a suitable Sango interpreter wherever in Canada the appointment is.
Common settings include legal and court interpreting, medical and hospital interpreting, IRCC and Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) interviews, and police and enforcement work. See all on-site interpreting options or start a free quote.
Certified translation for Central African files is usually French to English rather than Sango, because civil documents from the Central African Republic are issued in French. Sango appears mainly in spoken settings and in occasional correspondence or statements. Whatever the source language, we deliver a complete English or French translation with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy, or a sworn affidavit before a commissioner of oaths where required.
The documents we see are usually birth, marriage and death certificates, identity papers, and school records, typically in French, sometimes reissued where originals were lost during unrest. We translate what is presented and note where a record is a later copy, keeping names as written and flagging any variant for the officer. Acceptance ultimately depends on the receiving institution; we prepare the format IRCC and the courts expect.
For documents rather than spoken interpreting, see certified Sangho translation, our full Sangho translation services, or general document translation. Every translation moves through our TEP workflow — translation, editing and proofreading by separate linguists — with free revisions.
An interpreter attends in person for hearings, medical appointments and meetings. On-site interpreting
Same-day, often within minutes, for calls, intake and urgent situations. Phone interpreting
Telehealth, remote hearings and sign language, anywhere in Canada. Video interpreting
Simultaneous interpreting for events and multilingual meetings. Conference interpreting
Legal consultations, settlement services and private appointments. Private interpreting
ASL and LSQ interpreting for accessible appointments and events. Sign language
We arrange Sangho interpreters in cities across every province and territory — on site in the major centres and by telephone or video everywhere else:
Need documents translated locally? We provide certified Sangho translation in the same cities:
Or browse every city we cover.
Sangho (Sango) is a Ngbandi-based creole and the national language of the Central African Republic, where it serves as the everyday lingua franca alongside French (the country's official administrative language). Around 5 million people speak it. The Sangho-speaking community in Canada is small, concentrated in Quebec and other areas that received Central African refugee resettlement. Our Sangho translation work is occasional and typically tied to IRB refugee hearings and family-court paperwork.
Yes. Sango, sometimes spelled Sangho, is the national lingua franca of the Central African Republic. We assign Sango interpreters for this work and can pair it with French where the file calls for both.
Yes. Civil records from the Central African Republic are usually in French, so much of this work is certified French to English translation with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy, or a sworn affidavit where required. We also translate Sango material where it appears. Acceptance ultimately depends on the receiving institution.
Yes, mainly by telephone or video, since the community is small and dispersed. On-site attendance can sometimes be arranged in the larger cities; tell us the location, date and setting and we confirm what is possible.
Telephone and video interpreting can usually be arranged within a few business days, and often sooner for urgent refugee matters. Because the pool is small, more notice helps; give us the date and setting and we confirm availability.
Tell us the language, the setting and the date through our quote form or by phone. We return a written quote with the exact price and turnaround, usually within 60 minutes during business hours, before you commit.
Tell us the setting, the city and the date, and we will confirm a qualified Sangho interpreter and a firm price.