Cal Interpreting & Translations provides professional Achi language services nationwide. Our certified Achi translators and interpreters serve individuals, businesses, and organizations requiring accurate communication between Achi and English.
Achi is a Mayan language spoken by approximately 85,000 people in Guatemala's Baja Verapaz and El Quiché regions. The language has two distinct variants: Rabinal Achi and Cubulco Achi. Achi uses a 32-letter alphabet consisting of 22 consonants and 10 vowels.
The Achi writing system excludes several Spanish letters including c, d, f, g, ñ, v, and z. This alphabetic structure reflects the language's distinct phonetic system that developed independently from Spanish colonial influence. Both Rabinal Achi and Cubulco Achi maintain this standardized writing system despite regional pronunciation differences.
Achi belongs to the K'iche'an branch of the Mayan language family alongside K'iche', Kaqchikel, Tz'utujil, and Sakapulteko. CIT also provides professional translation and interpretation services for these related Mayan languages: K'iche' (the largest Mayan language), Kaqchikel (spoken in Guatemala's central highlands), Mam (from the western highlands), Q'eqchi' (from northern Guatemala), and Ixil (from the Ixil Triangle region). While these languages share common Mayan origins, each requires specialized interpreters due to distinct vocabulary, cultural contexts, and regional variations.
Rabinal Achi is spoken primarily in Rabinal municipality, while Cubulco Achi is used in Cubulco municipality and surrounding areas. These variants maintain mutual intelligibility but contain pronunciation differences and regional vocabulary that qualified interpreters must understand. The Rabinal variant includes ceremonial language used in traditional Rabinal Achí dance-drama.
Geographical separation between Rabinal and Cubulco has created distinct linguistic features in each variant. Professional interpreters must identify which variant a speaker uses to provide accurate interpretation, particularly in formal settings like court interpreting or medical interpreting where precision matters most.
CIT translates documents between Achi and English for immigration, legal, medical, and educational purposes. Our certified Achi translators provide USCIS-accepted translations that government agencies, courts, and institutions recognize as official.
Immigration document translation represents our highest-volume Achi service. Birth certificates from Guatemala require careful attention to regional naming conventions and municipal formatting that differs between Baja Verapaz and El Quiché. Marriage certificates often contain traditional Achi names that need phonetic preservation in English translation. School transcripts from Guatemalan institutions require educational system knowledge to provide equivalent grade conversions acceptable to U.S. schools and universities.
Police clearance certificates from Guatemala present unique challenges when translating official stamps and authorization signatures. Military service records require understanding of Guatemalan military terminology and rank structures. Passport translations must maintain exact spelling and date formatting for immigration processing accuracy.
Legal document translation requires understanding both Guatemalan legal terminology and U.S. legal concepts. Court orders from Guatemalan courts use civil law terminology that requires careful conversion to common law equivalents. Custody agreements often reference traditional Achi family structures that need cultural explanation alongside linguistic translation.
Power of attorney documents contain specific authorization language that varies between Guatemalan and U.S. legal requirements. Property deeds frequently include land descriptions using traditional Achi geographical references. Adoption papers require particular attention to family relationship terminology that differs significantly between cultures.
Medical document translation demands precision in translating symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment instructions. Medical records from Guatemala often include traditional healing references alongside Western medical treatment. Vaccination records require converting between different vaccination schedules and pharmaceutical names used in Guatemala versus the United States.
Prescription instructions need careful translation to prevent dosage errors or medication confusion. Medical test results require unit conversion and terminology standardization for U.S. healthcare providers. Insurance forms often contain coverage concepts that don't exist in traditional Achi communities.
Educational document translation involves converting between Guatemalan and U.S. educational systems. Diplomas from Guatemalan institutions require grade level equivalency explanations for U.S. recognition. Academic transcripts need subject matter translation that accounts for different curriculum structures.
Teacher evaluations often reference pedagogical concepts specific to Guatemalan education. Achievement certificates may include cultural or regional recognition that requires context for U.S. academic institutions. Enrollment forms for U.S. schools need careful translation to ensure accurate student placement.
Achi interpretation serves speakers who need real-time communication assistance in legal, medical, and government settings. Our certified Achi interpreters provide consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting depending on the setting requirements.
Court interpreting is a specialized field requiring certified interpreters trained in legal terminology and courtroom procedures. Criminal court proceedings demand precise translation of charges, rights advice, and witness testimony. Immigration court hearings require interpreters who understand both U.S. immigration law and the circumstances driving Achi migration from Guatemala.
Family court sessions often involve custody disputes where traditional Achi family structures conflict with U.S. legal frameworks. Traffic court appearances might seem routine but require exact translation of violations and penalties. Arraignments demand immediate interpretation accuracy since constitutional rights depend on clear communication. Jury trials require simultaneous interpreting capabilities for extended proceedings.
Medical interpreting requires cultural competency alongside linguistic accuracy. Doctor appointments often involve symptom descriptions that reference traditional Achi concepts of illness and healing. Emergency room visits often require immediate interpretation accuracy where miscommunication could affect treatment outcomes.
Surgery consultations require precise translation of risks, benefits, and consent information. Mental health sessions need interpreters who understand cultural stigma around psychological treatment in Achi communities. Diagnostic procedures involve technical terminology that exists in English but may need cultural explanation in Achi.
Immigration interpreting serves Achi speakers navigating complex U.S. immigration processes. USCIS interviews determine eligibility for various immigration benefits and require interpreters who understand both legal requirements and applicant circumstances. Asylum hearings involve testimony about persecution or violence that drove speakers to leave Guatemala.
Consular interviews at U.S. embassies require interpreters who understand visa application processes. ICE proceedings often occur under stressful conditions requiring patient, accurate interpretation. Border patrol encounters need immediate interpretation to establish identity and circumstances.
Educational interpreting helps Achi-speaking families participate in their children's education and understand American educational systems. Parent-teacher conferences require interpreters who understand both educational terminology and traditional Achi family decision-making structures. IEP meetings involve special education concepts that need cultural explanation alongside linguistic translation.
School enrollment procedures often confuse families from traditional Achi communities where education follows different patterns. Disciplinary hearings require careful cultural mediation since Achi community discipline differs from American school discipline. Special education evaluations need interpreters who understand developmental concepts across cultural contexts.
Real-time video interpretation using secure platforms for telemedicine appointments, virtual court proceedings, and remote business meetings.
Speaker pauses for interpretation. Used in depositions, medical consultations, and small group meetings.
Cal Interpreting & Translations specializes in Achi and other Mayan languages with native-speaking linguists nationwide. Founded in 2010, CIT serves over 1,000 monthly projects across 200+ languages with particular expertise in indigenous language services.
No matter what your needs may be, we can and are ready to assist you now. We have translators and interpreters standing by 24/7.
CIT's interpreter is such a rockstar, and it’s so great to have him as a lead interpreter for our Board meetings. About Our Interpreters 
Thank you for always being able to handle emergency interpreting assignments with ease. About Urgent Requests
Thank you for always being able to handle emergency interpreting assignments with ease. About Urgent Requests
Your translation rates are more competitive than other language service providers I used in the past. About Pricing
Professionalism matters at CIT. We respond to request inside 24 hours.
