Freelance Somali Interpreter and Translator

About the role

Somali speakers in the UK come from Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya, and the UK has long-established communities in several cities. Most clients speak Northern (standard) Somali, but some from southern Somalia speak Maay Maay, which is not easily understood by Northern Somali speakers. Interpreters who speak Maay Maay or Arabic are especially welcome.

Assignments include maternity and children's services, GP and hospital care, mental health, housing, schools, police and courts, and immigration matters. Translators work on health information, legal documents and certificates in Somali Latin script.

What you will do

• Interpret for Northern Somali speakers and, where fluent, for Maay Maay speakers.
• Translate health and council information into clear, everyday Somali.
• 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.
• Produce accurate transcripts and English translations of recorded Somali speech, for example police interviews or research recordings.

What we are looking for

• Excellent spoken and written Somali 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.
• Maay Maay or 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.

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

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