Freelance Mandinka Interpreter and Translator

About the role

Mandinka is a major language of The Gambia and is also spoken in the Casamance region of Senegal and in Guinea-Bissau. It belongs to the Manding group with Malinke and Bambara, which are partly intelligible with it. Most Gambian clients also speak some English or Wolof, but they often need an interpreter for medical, legal or immigration matters where precision is essential.

Assignments include asylum and immigration interviews, solicitor appointments, GP and hospital care, and family and children's services. Written translation is less common, because Mandinka is mostly spoken, but statements and messages do need translating.

What you will do

• Interpret between English and Mandinka for Gambian, Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean clients.
• Translate Mandinka voice messages and written statements, noting where a word is borrowed from Wolof, Arabic or English.
• Follow professional standards of accuracy, impartiality and confidentiality on every assignment.
• Prepare for each booking by reviewing the brief and researching specialist terminology in advance.
• Take on-site assignments at hospitals, courts, offices and other venues, and remote sessions by video or telephone.
• Take on transcription and translation of Mandinka recordings for legal, research and media clients, if this work interests you.

What we are looking for

• Native or near-native fluency in Mandinka and English.
• Relevant qualifications such as the DPSI, DPI or a translation degree, or equivalent professional experience; CIOL, ITI or NRPSI membership is welcome.
• Wolof, Fula, Jola, Malinke or Bambara is an advantage.
• Willingness to undergo a DBS check, which is required for some assignments, such as those involving children or vulnerable adults.
• For on-site work in the UK, the right to work in the UK.
• Reliable internet access and suitable equipment (computer or phone with headset) for video and telephone work.

What we offer

• Freelance flexibility, accepting work when it suits you.
• Remote and on-site assignments.
• Fair pay that reflects your skills and time.
• Support from our operations team.
• Assignments across sectors, including healthcare, legal and public services.

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

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