Freelance Kurdish Badini (Behdini) Interpreter and Translator

About the role

Badini (also spelled Behdini or Bahdini) is the variety of Kurmanji spoken in the Duhok governorate and nearby areas of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Unlike Kurmanji in Turkey and Syria, it is usually written in the Arabic-based Kurdish alphabet, and it includes some vocabulary shared with Sorani as well as loanwords. Badini speakers often understand Sorani less well than Sorani speakers assume, so a true Badini interpreter matters. People in Duhok, Zakho and the surrounding areas communicate in Badini in daily life.

Assignments take place in asylum and immigration interviews, solicitor appointments, tribunal hearings, health care and local authority services. Translators work on documents from the Kurdistan Region, which are usually in Kurdish and sometimes bilingual Kurdish and Arabic, and on personal statements in Badini.

What you will do

• Interpret in Badini for clients from Duhok and nearby areas, and flag early if a client is more comfortable in Sorani or another Kurdish variety.
• Translate Badini statements and Iraqi Kurdish documents written in Arabic-based script.
• 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 Kurdish Badini recordings for legal, research and media clients, if this work interests you.

What we are looking for

• Native or near-native fluency in Badini and English.
• Relevant qualifications such as the DPSI, DPI or a translation degree, or equivalent professional experience; CIOL, ITI or NRPSI membership is welcome.
• Sorani or Arabic 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.

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

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