Freelance Soninke Interpreter and Translator

About the role

Soninke, known as Serahule in The Gambia and Sarakole in parts of Senegal, is spoken in western Mali, southern Mauritania, eastern Senegal and The Gambia. It is mostly spoken rather than written, and its speakers usually also know French, Bambara, Wolof or Hassaniya Arabic depending on their country.

Assignments include asylum and immigration interviews, solicitor meetings, GP and hospital care, and community services. Because qualified Soninke interpreters are hard to find, we welcome experienced community interpreters as well as those with formal qualifications.

What you will do

• Interpret in Soninke for clients from Mali, Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia, noting regional differences.
• Translate Soninke voice messages and statements into English, and French documents where qualified.
• 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.
• Attend video and telephone assignments from a quiet, private space with a reliable connection.
• Produce accurate transcripts and English translations of recorded Soninke speech, for example police interviews or research recordings.

What we are looking for

• Native or near-native fluency in Soninke and English.
• 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.
• French, Bambara, Wolof or Hassaniya Arabic is an advantage.
• 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.

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

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