Swahili Linguistic Expert

$40/hr

rate as listed

Workload: ~15h/week
Engagement: Project-based
Location: Worldwide
Field: Languages

Evaluate, annotate and refine Swahili text used to assess and improve large language models. The work covers translation, summarization, dialogue and grammar correction, with attention to linguistic accuracy, regional variation and cultural context.

The work

You will review Swahili output from a large language model, identify errors and improve content through editing or rewriting. Assignments may cover translation, summarization, dialogue and grammar correction, alongside annotation of grammatical, syntactic and semantic features. You will also document recurring language gaps and provide researchers with specific evidence for model improvement.

What the screening covers

Mercor is looking for native or near-native fluency in Swahili and professional fluency in English. Screening is likely to test command of Swahili grammar, syntax and style, including regional variation, register and context-appropriate usage. Expect follow-up questions about professional work in Swahili translation, editing, linguistic annotation or NLP data, as well as judgment calls where more than one rendering may be acceptable. Interest in AI and LLM-driven language technologies is preferred but not required.

Practical details

The role is remote and suited to someone experienced in distributed-team collaboration. The listing does not specify whether work is asynchronous, the expected weekly hours or the project duration, so candidates should be ready to state their actual availability and time-zone constraints. Pay band: $40/hr

What they look for

Native or near-native Swahili fluency, including grammar, syntax and stylistics
Professional experience in Swahili translation, editing, linguistic annotation or NLP data work
Knowledge of Swahili regional variation, register and context-appropriate usage
Professional fluency in English
Ability to evaluate and explain subtle linguistic errors in model-generated text
Experience collaborating in distributed, remote teams

Included with this listing

Interview prep — 10 questions

Matched to what this platform's screening actually measures. Answer each out loud in 60–90 seconds: claim → concrete example → implication.

What it tests: This tests whether your Swahili experience is professional and verifiable, including the material, deliverables, review process and your individual responsibility.
A strong answer: Give one bounded example with the content type, audience, approximate volume, tools or guidelines used and the exact work you performed. Include how quality was checked and one issue you personally resolved.
Where people lose it: Listing several job titles without describing a specific Swahili deliverable leaves the screener unable to verify the depth of your experience.

Summary, eligibility guidance and screening preparation are prepared by Sidequest from the platform's posting. Check the source listing before applying.