FBI linguists interpret documents or audio sources from various languages into English, and may act as live interpreters or testify in court. They assist in solving federal crimes and work in various FBI departments and government agencies. There are four categories of language jobs at the FBI, and an FBI linguist’s work schedule can be unpredictable. They must exhibit fluent language skills and typically work at least 20 hours a week.
The duties of a linguist employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) primarily involve interpreting documents or audio sources into English from a variety of other languages, although an FBI linguist may also act as a live interpreter or testify in court cases. judicial. FBI linguists are experts in specific languages as well as knowledgeable about the cultures in which those languages are spoken. These federal agents assist in solving federal crimes through the application of their foreign language skills. In this FBI job category, an individual provides language services that help various FBI departments as well as other government agencies. Working as an FBI linguist can offer an unpredictable mix of travel and desk work.
The duties of an FBI linguist can vary depending on the position. Four categories of language jobs at the FBI include special agent linguists, who are fully invested FBI agents with higher security clearance; contracted language monitors, who typically create content summaries from written or audio sources in other languages; contract linguists, who are on call to be contacted for special translation assignments as they arise; and contract testers, whose primary job is to administer telephone exams to test others for language skills. A contract linguist is usually responsible for translating documents or audio recordings word for word from other languages into English. In some cases, this type of FBI linguist can also provide translations from English into other specific languages. Contract linguists are sometimes required to give court testimony about materials they have translated for the FBI.
An FBI linguist’s work schedule can be unpredictable in some cases. An individual in this position may spend most of the workweek in an office, preparing written transcripts or summaries of translated material. Some positions may involve field work that requires the individual to travel unannounced in order to participate in an interview or interrogation. At other times, an FBI linguist may be called upon from other federal offices to provide short-term assistance on a specific project because of their expertise in the language and culture of a specific region.
In general, FBI linguists must exhibit fluent language skills, including writing, reading, listening, and speaking in one or more of the languages considered important to the security of the United States. These individuals typically work at least 20 hours a week. Special Agent Linguists are full-time FBI agents who become language specialists.
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