Quichua Interpreters and Translators: A Quick Guide

valeriamarchese2
Sep 22
4 min read

As Quichua-speaking communities 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 Quichua interpreters step in and help migrants integrate safely into their new surroundings.

For Quichua-speaking communities, whose cultural and linguistic heritage has stood the test of time, interpreters play a major role in bridging the gap between their traditional ways of life and the challenges of modern migration.

This blog explores the Quichua language, why Quichua-speaking communities are migrating, and the support interpreters can provide them as they settle in the United States.

Who speaks Quichua?

Quichua, also spelled Kichwa, is a Quechuan language spoken mainly in Ecuador and parts of southern Colombia. It is closely related to Quechua, but both have become different enough to be recognized as separate languages.

Quichua has multiple variants that are mostly mutually intelligible, each with their own local vocabulary and expressions. To support bilingual education, linguists in Ecuador introduced Kichwa Unificado, a standardized writing system for Quichua’s Ecuadorian variants.

Quichua has been shaped by its centuries-long history of trade and exchange. Long before the Inca expansion into present-day Ecuador, trade networks carried early Quechuan languages north. Over time, these exchanges gradually developed into new forms of speech.

Quechua was further spread during Spanish colonial rule as it was used for administration and missionary work. However, Indigenous communities in Ecuador kept their own ways of speaking and slowly adapted them over time into Quechua. While different communities in Ecuador incorporated their own words and expressions, Spanish influence also simplified certain parts. This is how Quichua began to diverge from Quechua.

Why are Quichua-speaking communities migrating?

Quichua-speaking communities are leaving their ancestral lands as extractive industries and criminal economies make traditional life in the Amazon more and more unlivable. Environmental damage and violence have forced many families to leave in search of safety and new lives.

Illegal gold mining, coca cultivation, and large-scale African palm plantations in the Ecuadorian Amazon are destroying forests and rivers that once sustained their communities. These industries have displaced families, created violence, and eroded food sources. Ecuador’s 2008 Constitution promised more rights and protections, but the government has done little to support these communities.

Pollution has made it impossible to live in areas where rivers once provided fish and fertile soils supported crops. Oil spills in Ecuador, which have contaminated rivers and soils for decades and harmed both fishing and farming, have been a major part of the problem. In 2020, more than 15,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into the Coca and Napo rivers, cutting off clean water for tens of thousands of people and destroying crops in nearby villages. Because recovery is slow and uncertain, many families have been forced to leave their territories, as they have become deadly and dangerous to live in.

The Roles And Importance Of Quichua Interpreters

Quichua 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 Quichua-speaking 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 Quichua interpreters are indispensable.

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

Finding a qualified Quichua interpreter tends to be difficult. Many people confuse Quichua with Quechua and may not know which one they need. This often leads to hiring the wrong interpreter. The search is made more difficult because of the small number of professional interpreters, which results from few training programs, limited professional support, and the fact that many Quichua speakers live in remote areas.

This language disparity restricts Quichua speakers' access to healthcare, legal aid, and social services. Without language services, they are at risk of misdiagnoses, unfair asylum decisions, and unjust deportations. Quichua 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 Quichua Interpreter from Maya Bridge

At Maya Bridge, we offer language services for Quichua and all of its variants to provide your organization with comprehensive linguistic support. Since 2021, we have provided Quichua 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 Quichua interpretation, 24 hours a day.

We offer:

Video Remote Quichua Interpretation
Over-the-phone Quichua Interpretation
In-person Quichua Interpretation
Court-certified Quichua Interpretation
Medical-certified Quichua Interpretation
Quichua Translation
Quichua 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.