Freelance Amharic Interpreter and Translator

About the role

Amharic is a working language of the federal government of Ethiopia and is written in the Ge'ez (Ethiopic) script. Many Ethiopian clients speak another first language, such as Oromo or Tigrinya, and use Amharic as a shared language, so interpreters who also speak these languages are valuable. Political and ethnic sensitivities make impartiality essential.

Assignments take place in immigration and asylum interviews, children's services, health and mental health care and court hearings. Translators work on Ethiopian identity documents and evidence in Ge'ez script.

What you will do

• Interpret for Ethiopian clients with strict neutrality on political and ethnic matters.
• Translate Amharic documents written in Ge'ez script into accurate English.
• Keep everything you hear and read on assignments strictly confidential, and remain impartial throughout.
• Build and maintain your own glossaries for the sectors you work in.
• Deliver written translations that are accurate, complete and proofread, on or before the agreed deadline.
• Work remotely by video or telephone, or on site at the client's premises, arriving prepared and on time.
• Produce accurate transcripts and English translations of recorded Amharic speech, for example police interviews or research recordings.

What we are looking for

• Excellent spoken and written Amharic and English, with the ability to switch register for different clients.
• The DPSI (Diploma in Public Service Interpreting), DPI (Diploma in Police Interpreting) or an equivalent qualification is an advantage; CIOL or ITI membership is welcome.
• Oromo or Tigrinya is an advantage.
• Willingness to complete a DBS check for assignments in healthcare, education or with vulnerable people.
• Right to work in the UK if you will take on-site assignments in the UK.
• A reliable internet connection, headset and quiet, private workspace for remote assignments.

What we offer

• Remote work by video and telephone, plus on-site bookings.
• Fair compensation for your skills and time.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Help from our operations team before and after assignments.
• Varied assignments across healthcare, legal, government, finance and more.
• Flexible working: choose the assignments that suit your availability.

Amharic work with SILA Linguists®

SILA Linguists® is a language services company providing interpreting, translation and transcription across the UK, North America, Australia, New Zealand and beyond, in more than 350 languages and dialects. As a Amharic linguist with us, you can take on the full range of work we offer in Amharic:

• Amharic interpreting of every type: face-to-face, telephone (OPI) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, video (VRI) through the SILA Linguists® app or the client's platform, consecutive, simultaneous, conference and remote simultaneous (RSI), community and escort interpreting.
• Amharic translation of documents into and out of English, from letters, medical reports and school records to contracts, research and websites.
• Certified Amharic translation with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as courts, the Home Office, universities and employers.
• Amharic transcription of audio and video recordings, with time stamps, translation of the transcript and subtitling.

Our vetted, trained and qualified linguists work in legal, police and court settings, immigration and asylum matters, NHS and private healthcare, social care, schools and universities, charities and business. Every assignment is covered by confidentiality agreements and UK GDPR.

Questions

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