Freelance Bengali and Sylheti Interpreter and Translator

About the role

Bengali is closely linked with Sylheti and Chatgaya (Chittagonian). Many UK speakers of Bangladeshi heritage speak Sylheti at home, which differs from standard Bengali in sounds and vocabulary and is mostly spoken rather than written. We need interpreters who speak Sylheti fluently, as well as translators who write standard Bengali in the Bengali script.

Assignments include GP and hospital appointments, maternity and children's services, school meetings, housing, police interviews and court hearings. Translation work covers patient information, council letters and legal documents into standard Bengali.

What you will do

• Interpret in Sylheti or standard Bengali according to the client's preference, and check that technical terms are understood.
• Translate written material into standard Bengali, since Sylheti is rarely used for written communication.
• 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 Bengali speech, for example police interviews or research recordings.

What we are looking for

• Excellent spoken and written Bengali and Sylheti 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.
• Fluent spoken Sylheti, standard Bengali or both, with written Bengali for translation work (please state which).
• 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.

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

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