Freelance Arabic Interpreter and Translator

About the role

Arabic in the UK is a family of spoken dialects alongside Modern Standard Arabic. Clients may speak Levantine (Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian, Jordanian), Iraqi, Egyptian, Sudanese, Yemeni, Gulf or Maghrebi Arabic, and Sudanese and Maghrebi dialects in particular can be hard to follow for speakers of other varieties. Please tell us which dialects you understand and speak with confidence.

Assignments take place in immigration and asylum settings, solicitor appointments, health and mental health care, local authority services and police interviews. Translators work on legal documents, medical records and certificates, and business work includes contract and marketing translation into Modern Standard Arabic.

What you will do

• Interpret in the client's dialect where possible, and inform the booking team at once if you cannot follow a dialect.
• Translate into Modern Standard Arabic for written material, or into a specific dialect when the client requests it.
• Interpret accurately and impartially, following the professional code of conduct and keeping all information confidential.
• Research subject-specific vocabulary before assignments, particularly for medical and legal bookings.
• Translate and proofread documents carefully, querying unclear source text rather than guessing.
• Transcribe and translate audio and video recordings, such as interviews and calls, if you have the skills for transcription work.

What we are looking for

• Native or near-native fluency in Arabic and English, spoken and written.
• A recognised interpreting or translation qualification, such as the DPSI or DPI, or equivalent experience. Membership of CIOL, ITI or NRPSI is welcome but not required.
• Command of Modern Standard Arabic plus strong understanding of at least one spoken dialect (please list them).
• A current DBS check, or willingness to obtain one, for assignments that require it.
• The right to work in the UK for on-site UK assignments.
• A dependable internet connection and a confidential space for remote interpreting.

What we offer

• Flexible freelance work that fits around your schedule.
• A mix of remote (video and telephone) and on-site assignments.
• Fair pay for your expertise and time.
• Professional development to keep your skills current.
• A supportive operations team to help with bookings and questions.
• Varied work across sectors, from healthcare and law to government and business.

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

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