Sindhi translation services
سنڌيLEXIGO provides professional Sindhi translation across Australia for Pakistani and Indian Sindhi communities and the government, health and legal organisations serving them. We translate Sindhi to English and English to Sindhi in the Arabic-based Sindhi script with right-to-left typesetting, including Sindh province birth certificates, marriage certificates, degrees and police character certificates.
Sindhi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by approximately 32 million people, primarily in the Sindh province of Pakistan and in parts of India (particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat). Sindhi has a rich literary tradition dating back centuries and holds official language status in both Pakistan's Sindh province and as one of India's scheduled languages. The language is historically associated with the ancient Indus Valley civilisation and the Sufi literary tradition.
In Australia, approximately 3,000 Sindhi speakers were recorded in the 2021 Census. The Sindhi-Australian community is diverse, including migrants from Pakistan's Sindh province, Indian Sindhi Hindus (descendants of those who migrated during the Partition of 1947), and more recent arrivals through skilled migration and student pathways. Communities are concentrated in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
Sindhi is written in different scripts depending on the country: in Pakistan, a modified Arabic script (Perso-Arabic) is standard, while in India, both Devanagari and Arabic scripts are used. This dual-script tradition reflects the community's religious and national diversity. Sindhi has a rich phonological system including implosive consonants (unique sounds not found in most neighbouring languages), four tones in some dialects, and extensive morphological complexity.
The Sindhi-Australian community bridges multiple cultural identities. Pakistani Sindhi speakers may be Muslim with strong connections to Sindh's Sufi traditions, while Indian Sindhi speakers are predominantly Hindu with a diaspora identity shaped by the Partition experience. Despite these differences, the Sindhi language serves as a shared cultural heritage that connects communities across religious and national boundaries.
For organisations, Sindhi language services are relevant in community engagement, cultural events, aged care (particularly for older community members more comfortable in Sindhi), healthcare, and communications targeting Sindhi-speaking communities. Understanding the community's diverse backgrounds and ensuring appropriate cultural sensitivity across religious and national lines is important for effective service delivery.
What makes Sindhi translation different?
Dual Script
Sindhi is written in two scripts: a modified Arabic script (Perso-Arabic, used in Pakistan's Sindh province) and Devanagari (used by Hindu Sindhis in India). For Australian communities, the script preference depends on the audience's background. Pakistani Sindhis typically prefer Arabic script, while Indian Sindhis may prefer Devanagari. Always confirm the audience's script preference before beginning translation work.
RTL Considerations
When using Arabic script Sindhi, right-to-left layout is required, along with proper bidirectional text handling when Sindhi and English appear together. The Sindhi Arabic script includes additional characters not found in standard Arabic fonts, so Sindhi-specific font support must be verified.
Religious and Cultural Diversity
Sindhi speakers include Muslims (majority in Pakistan's Sindh), Hindus (majority of Indian Sindhis), and smaller numbers of other religious groups. Communications should be sensitive to this diversity and avoid assumptions about religious identity.
Limited Translator Pool
Sindhi translators are limited in Australia. The small community size means translation resources may need to be sourced from Pakistan or India, and community reviewers are valuable for community communications.
Text Expansion
Sindhi text typically runs 15-20% longer than English. Layout designs should accommodate this expansion alongside the script's specific rendering requirements.
Frequently asked questions about Sindhi translation
Which Sindhi documents do you translate?
Birth certificates, nikah namas, degrees and police character certificates issued in Sindh are the most common, and many combine Sindhi, Urdu and English entries, each handled by a translator in that language. Tell us where the translation will be submitted and we'll confirm what the receiving authority needs before we start.
Arabic or Devanagari script: which will my Sindhi translation use?
Sindhi from Pakistan is written in an extended Arabic script with more letters than Urdu, running right to left. Sindhi from India is usually written in Devanagari. Tell us where the document or audience comes from and we'll assign a translator for that script.
Where are Australia's Sindhi-speaking communities?
The 2021 Census recorded about 3,000 Sindhi speakers at home, in Sydney's west and Melbourne's south-east alongside the wider Pakistani community, with Indian Sindhi families in Sydney and Perth. Most arrived through skilled migration since 2000.
How much does Sindhi translation cost?
Personal documents are quoted per page. Community and legal content is quoted on word count, subject matter and turnaround. Upload your file for a free quote.