About the role

Fula is spoken across West and Central Africa, from Senegal and The Gambia to Nigeria, Cameroon and beyond, and its varieties differ a great deal. Pulaar is used in Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania, Pular in Guinea's Fouta Djallon, and Fulfulde in Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. Speakers of distant varieties may struggle to understand each other, so we match interpreters by variety and country.

Assignments mainly include asylum and immigration interviews, solicitor appointments, healthcare, and police and court settings. Clients often also speak French, Wolof, Mandinka or Hausa.

What you will do

Interpret only in the Fula varieties you speak fluently, and tell us at once if a client uses a variety you cannot follow.
Translate Fula statements and messages into English, and French documents where you are qualified.
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.
Attend video and telephone assignments from a quiet, private space with a reliable connection.
Produce accurate transcripts and English translations of recorded Fulani speech, for example police interviews or research recordings.

What we are looking for

Native or near-native fluency in at least one Fula variety and in English.
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.
Please list your Fula varieties (for example Pulaar, Pular or Fulfulde); French, Wolof, Mandinka or Hausa 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.

Fulani 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 Fulani linguist with us, you can take on the full range of work we offer in Fulani:

Fulani 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.
Fulani translation of documents into and out of English, from letters, medical reports and school records to contracts, research and websites.
Certified Fulani translation with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as courts, the Home Office, universities and employers.
Fulani 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

Do you need Pular or Pulaar interpreters?

Both, and Fulfulde as well. Clients are matched by variety, so please be specific about what you speak.

Do I need the DPSI to apply?

No. The DPSI or a similar qualification is welcome, and some clients require it for legal or police work, but it is not mandatory for every assignment.

Apply for this role

Freelance Fulani (Fula) Interpreter and Translator