Freelance Hausa Interpreter and Translator

About the role

Hausa is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa, used across northern Nigeria and Niger and as a trade language in Ghana, Cameroon, Chad and Sudan. Kano Hausa is the usual standard, but Nigerien Hausa has French loanwords and some regional varieties differ in pronunciation. Hausa is written in Latin script (Boko) and, for religious and some personal texts, in Arabic script (Ajami).

Assignments include GP and hospital care, asylum and immigration matters, solicitor appointments and courts, and business meetings. Translators work on certificates, statements and health information.

What you will do

• Interpret between English and Hausa for Nigerian, Nigerien and Ghanaian clients.
• Translate Hausa documents in Boko script, and Ajami texts where you can read them.
• 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 Hausa recordings for legal, research and media clients, if this work interests you.

What we are looking for

• Native or near-native fluency in Hausa 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.
• French, Arabic, Fula or Kanuri 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.

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

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