Translation | Interpretation | Subtitling | Education
Translation | Interpretation | Subtitling | Education
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About Ugarit
About Ugarit
Hi, I’m Lama — founder of Ugarit and a translator, interpreter, educator, and an advocate.
I started Ugarit because language has always been more than just a skill for me — it’s been a lifeline, a tool of survival, and a way to bridge impossible gaps. As a queer, non-binary Syrian living in diaspora, I’ve spent years working with and within communities navigating displacement, systems, and silence. Ugarit is how I offer what I know best: precise, thoughtful, culturally rooted language services in Arabic and English.
I hold formal training in translation and interpretation, with a focus on legal, immigration, and community-based work. I’ve also worked across journalism, arts, and advocacy — so I understand how voice, tone, and power show up in language. Whether I’m subtitling an interview, translating a refugee narrative, or mentoring emerging translators, my practice is grounded in integrity, care, and clarity.
Ugarit is named after the ancient Syrian city where one of the first alphabets was discovered — a reminder that language is history, survival, and possibility. Through Ugarit, I offer services and training that honour that legacy, while speaking directly to the needs of today.
Services Overview
Services Overview
At Ugarit for Translation and Language Services, I provide a range of expert Arabic–English language solutions tailored to your needs, whether you’re navigating legal systems, creating media, or learning the craft of translation.
Translation
Translation
Immigration & Refugee Documents: Accurate, culturally sensitive translation of Basis of Claim forms, affidavits, interviews, and other immigration paperwork.
Legal Translation: Contracts, court documents, affidavits, and legal correspondence, handled with precision and confidentiality.
Literary & Journalistic Translation: Poems, articles, essays, and creative texts translated with attention to voice and nuance.
Subtitling & Transcription
Subtitling & Transcription
Film and Video Subtitling: Accurate Arabic–English subtitles that preserve tone and context for documentaries, short films, and media projects.
Transcription & Timing: Creating clear, time-coded transcripts to support accessibility and content repurposing.
Interpretation
Interpretation
Community and Legal Interpretation: Support in-person or remote interpreting for appointments, interviews, and community meetings with cultural competence and confidentiality.
Education
Education
Customized courses and coaching for aspiring translators and language learners, including workshops on immigration-related translation, subtitling, and professional development.
Rates & Tiered Packages
Rates & Tiered Packages
Low-barrier & sliding scale options available
Low-barrier & sliding scale options available
I understand that budget is not always aligned with need — especially for folks navigating systemic barriers. If my standard rates are out of reach, you’re still welcome here. Just reach out. We’ll figure out a rate that works, no questions asked.
Document Translation
Document Translation
Standard (general, non-technical)
Standard (general, non-technical)
• $0.15–$0.25 CAD / word (English ↔ Arabic)
• Minimum flat fee: $50–$100 CAD per project
Specialized (legal, immigration, literary)
Specialized (legal, immigration, literary)
• $0.20–$0.30 CAD / word
Proofreading / Editing
Proofreading / Editing
• $0.05–$0.10 CAD / word
• Hourly option: $50–$75 CAD / hour
Subtitling, Transcription & Adaptation
Subtitling, Transcription & Adaptation
Subtitling (translation + timing)
Subtitling (translation + timing)
• $6–$8 CAD / video minute
• Add proofreading/QC: +$3 CAD / minute
Transcription
Transcription
• $3.50 CAD / audio minute
• Time-coding: +$0.50 CAD / minute
Cut / Recut & Timing Adaptation
Cut / Recut & Timing Adaptation
• $6–$10 CAD / video minute (depending on complexity & format)
Interpretation
Interpretation
Consecutive / Sight Interpretation
Consecutive / Sight Interpretation
• $50–$100 CAD / hour
Half-Day or Full-Day Onsite
Half-Day or Full-Day Onsite
• $500–$1,000 CAD / day (location + setting dependent)
Rush / Extra Services
Rush / Extra Services
• Rush jobs (24–48 hours): +20–50% surcharge
• Complex formatting or DTP: $25–$50 CAD / hour
Tiered Rates & Packages
Tiered Rates & Packages
• Bulk Projects (10,000+ words): 5% discount
• NGO / Equity Clients: Pay What You Can – just reach out to discuss a rate that works for you
• Rush Delivery (under 48 hours): 30% surcharge
Not sure which tier fits? Contact us anytime — we’ll find the best option together.
Certification Disclaimer
Certification Disclaimer
While I am a trained and experienced translator, I am not currently certified as a sworn translator.
For official purposes requiring certified translations (such as immigration, legal, or government submissions), I collaborate with certified translators who review and certify the final documents by adding their official stamp or signature.
This ensures your translations are accurate, legally compliant, and ready for submission.
If you're unsure whether your project requires certification, feel free to contact me. I'm happy to guide you.
Coming Soon: Ugarit Language School
Coming Soon: Ugarit Language School
Ugarit Language School is in development — a learning space rooted in advocacy, cultural fluency, and trauma-informed practice.
We’ll offer online courses, coaching, and mentorship focused on:
Trauma-informed translation and interpretation in refugee hearings
Arabic language learning grounded in lived experience
SOGIESC-sensitive interpretation in legal and immigration settings
Advocacy through language: ethics, nuance, and power in translation
Community-facing language work and inclusive terminology
Whether you're a language worker, an aspiring translator, or someone navigating multilingual advocacy, this school will offer tools for skill and integrity.
📝 Want to be notified when courses launch?
Fill out the contact form and mention “Language School” — we’ll keep you in the loop.
Get in Touch
Get in Touch
I welcome your questions, project ideas, and collaborations — and I know that reaching out can take energy.
You’re invited to contact me in whatever way feels most comfortable:
📩 Email: info@ugaritservices.com
📝 Or fill out the form below — whichever you prefer. You can share as much or as little as you’d like.
Some helpful things to include:
📩 Email: info@ugaritservices.com
📝 Or fill out the form below — whichever you prefer. You can share as much or as little as you’d like.
Some helpful things to include:
What kind of support you're looking for (translation, subtitling, interpretation, training)
Project details (topic, timeline, format, etc.)
Your preferred way to be contacted back
I do my best to respond within 3-7 business days, with care and clarity.
If you're unsure what you need or how to begin, that’s okay too — you’re welcome to reach out and we’ll figure it out together.
Land & Lineage Acknowledgement
This work is rooted in memory, movement, and resistance.
Land & Lineage Acknowledgement
This work is rooted in memory, movement, and resistance.
I live and work on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations — lands that have never been surrendered and remain under ongoing occupation.
As a queer, non-binary Syrian in diaspora, I carry the histories of my people across the Levant — from the ancient coastal city of Ugarit, where one of the earliest alphabets was born, to generations shaped by colonial borders, war, and forced migration. My lineage spans what is now called Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine — a region fragmented by empire but united by ancestral memory.
I hold these histories alongside the responsibilities of living on this land.
I affirm my solidarity with Indigenous peoples here and everywhere, and with global movements for Land Back, language reclamation, and decolonial futures.
✊🏽 Learn more and take action:
RAVEN Trust (Legal Defence Fund)
Language is not neutral. It holds power. Through Ugarit, I commit to using language not only to translate — but to remember, to resist, and to return.
Language is not neutral. It holds power. Through Ugarit, I commit to using language not only to translate — but to remember, to resist, and to return.
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