Chamorro Interpreters and Translators: A Quick Guide

As the Chamorro people increasingly migrate to the United States for safety, economic opportunities, and a better quality of life, language access is one of their biggest obstacles. This is where Chamorro interpreters and translators step in and help migrants integrate safely into their new surroundings.

For the Chamorro, whose cultural and linguistic heritage has stood the test of time, language services play a major role in bridging the gap between their traditional ways of life and the challenges of modern migration.

This blog explores the Chamorro language, why the Chamorro are migrating, and the help interpreters can provide as they settle in the United States.

Who speaks Chamorro?

Chamorro is the language of the Indigenous Chamorro people, the original inhabitants of Guam and the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines. Today, it is recognized as an official language of Guam alongside English. The number of fluent speakers drops each year, especially on Guam, where most are older than fifty-five. An alternative spelling is “CHamoru,” which is part of a modern spelling reform associated with language revitalization efforts.

Nearly half of Chamorro vocabulary comes from Spanish, a result of centuries of colonization. Many nearby Pacific languages belong to the Micronesian or Polynesian subgroups of the Austronesian language family, but Chamorro is generally considered its own separate branch within Austronesian. People in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands speak slightly different versions, but the differences are small and not enough to form separate variants.

The Chamorro people can trace their origins to insular Southeast Asia approximately 3,500 to 4,000 years ago, making them one of the earliest societies in Remote Oceania. Beginning in 1668, Spanish colonization spread Catholicism, suppressed Indigenous traditions, and led to a steep decline in population. Guam was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American War, while the Northern Marianas came under U.S. administration after World War II. Both remain U.S. territories without full political independence.

Why are the Chamorro migrating?

Chamorro migration began more than a century ago. The earliest wave came in the early 1900s, when young men joined whaling ships for travel and work. A larger wave followed ‌Typhoon Karen in 1960, which devastated Guam and forced families to leave. Since then, migration has remained steady, with many leaving for education, military service, or employment.

Climate change, such as elevated sea levels, severe storms, and damaged coral reefs, has been disrupting their food sources, coastal land, and traditional livelihoods for years. Between 2013 and 2017, intense marine heat waves harmed reef systems across the Marianas. Scientists project a 20% decline in reef fish production by 2050, and local fishers already report fewer and smaller catches. Pollution and heavier rainfall further degrade reef health and water quality, which further threatens both food security and marine resources. 

Economic conditions also influence the decision for many to migrate. Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands rely heavily on tourism and the military. Professional roles outside those sectors are not widely available, leaving few alternative career paths. Young Chamorro often leave for college, the U.S. military, or careers that provide steadier income and paths for advancement. This steady outflow contributes to “brain drain” as educated workers move away.

The Roles And Importance Of Chamorro Interpreters

Chamorro interpreters help migrants to express themselves and understand the information they are given, allowing them to better advocate for themselves and make more informed decisions.

Interpreters act as trusted guides for Chamorro migrants, guiding them through the complex U.S. immigration system and helping them get access to medical, legal, and social services. In settings like doctor's appointments, immigration proceedings, and court hearings, qualified Chamorro interpreters are indispensable. 

Besides providing language assistance, interpreters are also integral to intercultural communication. Having an interpreter who understands both American and Chamorro cultures can help make communication smoother and less stressful for both sides.

Chamorro interpretation services are limited, especially in specialized areas such as healthcare, law, and education. The language’s endangered status is one reason, as the number of speakers is declining each year. Additionally, formal training and certification programs are severely lacking. Without these programs and certifications, fluent speakers cannot receive the technical preparation they need to interpret accurately in professional contexts, such as legal hearings, medical appointments, or educational settings.

This language disparity restricts Chamorro speakers' access to healthcare, legal aid, and social services. Without language services, they are at risk of misdiagnoses, unfair asylum decisions, and unjust deportations. Chamorro speakers need access to qualified interpreters to have a clear understanding of their circumstances and exercise their fundamental right to language access in the U.S.

Work With A Chamorro Interpreter from Maya Bridge 

At Maya Bridge, we offer language services for Chamorro and all of its variants to provide your organization with comprehensive linguistic support. Since 2021, we have provided Chamorro to English interpretation to countless government agencies, healthcare organizations, and courts. As a small, niche interpretation agency specializing in Latin American Indigenous languages, we are uniquely equipped to offer on-demand Chamorro interpretation, 24 hours a day.

We offer:

• Video Remote Chamorro Interpretation 

• Over-the-phone Chamorro Interpretation 

• In-person Chamorro Interpretation 

• Court-certified Chamorro Interpretation

• Medical-certified Chamorro Interpretation

• Chamorro Translation

• Chamorro Voiceover and Subtitles

Learn more about our language services here. 

Maya Bridge - A Leading Advocate For Latin American Indigenous Language Access In The U.S.

Since 2021, Maya Bridge Language Services has been advocating for increased access for speakers of Mayan and other Latin American and global Indigenous languages here in the United States. Maya Bridge is a mission-driven, niche interpretation agency offering 24/7 on-demand services for over 100 Indigenous languages from Latin America, as well as African, Asian, Pacific Island, Native American, and other Indigenous languages. 

We have worked diligently to mobilize, train, and evaluate a network of hundreds of interpreters both in the U.S. and throughout the world to ensure that speakers of Indigenous languages can fully understand and be understood in important situations like healthcare, legal settings, in disaster and emergency response scenarios, and in receiving access to government programs. 

Contact us to schedule a meeting or call us anytime, day or night, at (801) 753-8568. 

About the Author

Jace Norton is a Q'eqchi' interpreter and linguist with an extensive background in the Q'eqchi' language. Norton lived and worked among the Q'eqchi' people from 2010 to 2012, created a language learning guide for Q'eqchi' in 2014, and worked in Q'eqchi' translation and interpretation from 2017 to 2021. In 2021, Norton founded Maya Bridge Language Services and is now a leading advocate for Mayan language access in the U.S.