Prism Linguistics arranges Shikomoro interpreters and certified translation across Canada, mostly for IRB and IRCC matters from the Comoros and Mayotte. Shikomoro, also called Comorian, is a Bantu language of the Sabaki group closely related to Swahili, with four main island varieties. The underlying civil records are usually in French or Arabic rather than in the language itself.
For spoken interpreting the variety matters, because the four Comorian varieties, Shingazidja, Shimwali, Shinzwani and Shimaore, differ island to island and are not always fully mutually intelligible, so at booking we ask which island a speaker is from. Ahead of the appointment we check with the client which language is wanted and what the session involves, so the Shikomoro interpreter of the right island variety is assigned throughout.
Interpreters attend IRB refugee hearings and IRCC interviews, hospital and clinic appointments under PHIPA and PIPEDA, and settlement meetings. Sessions are arranged by telephone or video across Canada, with in-person attendance in the larger centres where a matching interpreter is available.
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.
Shikomoro is written both in an Arabic-based script for religious and traditional use and in a newer Latin spelling, so a translator confirms the variety and script before starting. Because the Comoros use French and Arabic for administration and Mayotte uses French, a speaker's birth, marriage and identity records, school papers and court documents are almost always in French or Arabic.
A request framed as Shikomoro translation is therefore in practice a certified French to English or Arabic to English translation for an IRCC or IRB file, issued by a certified translator or supported by a sworn affidavit before a commissioner of oaths. We render seals, registry numbers and stamps as the source shows them, and acceptance ultimately depends on the receiving institution.
For documents rather than spoken interpreting, see certified Shikomoro translation, our full Shikomoro 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 Shikomoro 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 Shikomoro translation in the same cities:
Or browse every city we cover.
Shikomoro (Comorian) is a group of related Bantu languages spoken by around 800,000 people in the Comoros Islands and Mayotte. The major varieties include Shingazija (Grande Comore), Shimwali (Moheli), Shindzwani (Anjouan), and Shimaore (Mayotte). Speakers in Canada are served through our national interpreter network; documents from the Comoros are typically in French (the country's main administrative language) and routed accordingly.
No. The Comoros and Mayotte issue civil records in French, with Arabic used for some religious documents, so official papers from those places are usually in French or Arabic rather than Shikomoro. We provide a certified French or Arabic to English translation, and acceptance depends on the receiving institution.
Tell us the island. Shingazidja, Shimwali, Shinzwani and Shimaore differ and are not always fully mutually intelligible, so knowing whether a speaker is from Ngazidja, Mwali, Nzwani or Mayotte lets us match the interpreter, which matters most in an IRB hearing.
Yes. Shikomoro interpreting is arranged by telephone or video anywhere in Canada, which lets us reach a speaker of the right island variety wherever your hearing is.
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 Shikomoro interpreter and a firm price.