Freelance Tetum Interpreter and Translator
We are recruiting freelance Tetum (Tetun) interpreters and translators for healthcare, employment, legal and community work, by telephone, video or in person.
- Type Freelance (self-employed)
- Work Remote (video and telephone) and on-site
- Where United Kingdom
About the role
Tetum is an official language of Timor-Leste, alongside Portuguese. Tetun Dili (Tetun Prasa), the variety of the capital, contains many Portuguese loanwords and is the most widely used, while Tetun Terik is spoken in the south and west. Many Timorese people hold Portuguese passports, and Timorese communities have grown in Northern Ireland and England.
Assignments include GP and hospital care, maternity services, workplace and employment matters, housing, schools and legal advice. Translators work on Timorese documents in Tetum or Portuguese.
What you will do
- Interpret between English and Tetum for Timorese clients, recognising Portuguese loanwords and regional speech.
- Translate Tetum and Portuguese documents into English, where qualified.
- 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 Tetum recordings for legal, research and media clients, if this work interests you.
What we are looking for
- Native or near-native fluency in Tetum and English.
- Relevant qualifications such as the DPSI, DPI or a translation degree, or equivalent professional experience; CIOL, ITI or NRPSI membership is welcome.
- Portuguese or Indonesian 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.
Tetum 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 Tetum linguist with us, you can take on the full range of work we offer in Tetum:
- Tetum 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.
- Tetum translation of documents into and out of English, from letters, medical reports and school records to contracts, research and websites.
- Certified Tetum translation with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as courts, the Home Office, universities and employers.
- Tetum 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
Do I need Portuguese as well as Tetum?
It is not required, but it helps, because many Timorese documents are in Portuguese.
Can I work remotely?
Yes. Many assignments are delivered by video or telephone, and on-site work in the UK is also available.