Freelance Swahili Interpreter and Translator

About the role

Swahili is a lingua franca across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The people we interpret for range from Kenyan and Tanzanian families settled in the UK to Congolese refugees who speak Congolese Swahili (Kingwana) alongside French or Lingala. Coastal Kiswahili, the standard taught in schools, and Congolese Swahili differ in vocabulary and pronunciation, and good interpreters adjust to each.

Typical assignments include asylum and immigration interviews, solicitor appointments, GP and maternity care, mental health services and school meetings. Translators work on identity documents, medical letters and witness statements, usually in Latin script.

What you will do

• Interpret between English and Swahili, adapting to East African and Congolese varieties and flagging any word the client may not share.
• Translate civil, medical and legal documents written in Swahili, noting where a term is regional or borrowed from French or Arabic.
• 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 Swahili recordings for legal, research and media clients, if this work interests you.

What we are looking for

• Native or near-native fluency in Swahili and English, spoken and written.
• Relevant qualifications such as the DPSI, DPI or a translation degree, or equivalent professional experience; CIOL, ITI or NRPSI membership is welcome.
• Experience of Congolese Swahili, or of French, Lingala or Kinyarwanda, 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.

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

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