Intervention and the ethics
of translating
Anthony Pym
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Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Plaça Imperial Tàrraco 1
43005 Tarragona
Fax: (++ 34) 977 55 95 97
Ethics (deontology) comes from:
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The profession (tradition)
Theories and the academy (different paradigms)
Social ethics (culturally variable norms)
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Example 1
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Invictus
Why are South Africans played by Americans?
(Why do lectures in China refer to the Middle East?)
The choice to translate is one kind of intervention.
The way you translate may be another kind
(“translator intervention”).
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Example 2a
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Example 2b
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Intervention is…
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When an alternative viable rendition is refused
And the shifts are patterned
For an identifiable purpose
Concerning a target-side effect.
(Often as a result of collective agency.)
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Defining the terms…
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Ethics: principles for making just choices
Deontology: rules for a profession
Standards: clear terms and procedures for relations
between professions
Best practices: procedures considered superior to
other procedures, usually in terms of efficiency but
sometimes in terms of ethics.
Intervention only concerns ethics.
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TAC Standards…
Cooperation between the translation service provider
and its client is the basis for providing quality
translation services. Before entering into a contract
for such services, each party should fully understand
the expectations of the other party. This standard
defines relevant requirements with a view to
protecting the interests of the parties concerned. This
standard establishes an objective basis for quality
and avoiding post-service disputes.
(http://www.tac-online.org.cn/en/tran/200910/13/content_3183514.htm)
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Chesterman:
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Ethics of representation (truth)
Ethics of service (loyalty)
Norm-based ethics (trust)
Ethics of communication (“achieve cross-cultural
understanding”)
So how can intervention be ethical?
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ATA code of ethics
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I will serve the best interests of my clients,
conducting my professional activities without
causing or intending to cause harm.
I will treat all my clients with equal respect,
regardless of their origin, race, religion, gender,
age, or sexual preference.
I will represent honestly my Tarot qualifications,
including educational credentials and levels of
certification.
I will keep confidential the names of clients and all
information shared or discussed during readings,
unless otherwise requested by the client or
required by a court of law.
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ATA code of ethics
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I agree to support and be governed by the Bylaws
of the American Topical Association and such
amendments, resolutions and policies as may be
established.
I agree to abide by all federal, state, and local laws
relating to philatelic matters.
I agree to conduct myself so as to bring no
reproach or discredit to the Association, or to
impair the prestige of membership therein, or to
philately.
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ATA:
American Translators Association Code of
Professional Conduct and Business Practices
I. As a Translator or Interpreter, a bridge for ideas
from one language to another and one culture to
another, I commit myself to the highest standards of
performance, ethical behavior, and business
practices.
(Bridges get walked over.)
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ATA:
A. I will endeavor to translate the original message
faithfully, to satisfy the needs of the end user(s).
(Faithful to what?)
(What happens when faithfulness conflicts with final
needs?)
(Who knows what the message is, and what the
needs are?)
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ATA:
A.
I acknowledge that this level of excellence requires:
1. mastery of the target language equivalent to that
of an educated native speaker, (only the TL?)
2. up-to-date knowledge of the subject material and
its terminology in both languages,
3. access to information resources and reference
materials, and knowledge of the tools of my
profession, (only knowledge?)
4. continuing efforts to improve, broaden, and
deepen my skills and knowledge. (Who is going to
give you all these things?)
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ATA:
B. I will be truthful about my qualifications and will not
accept any assignments for which I am not fully
qualified.
C. I will safeguard the interests of my clients as my own
and divulge no confidential information.
D. I will notify my clients of any unresolved difficulties.
If we cannot resolve a dispute, we will seek
arbitration.
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ATA:
E. I will use a client as a reference only if I am prepared
to name a person to attest to the quality of my work.
F. I will respect and refrain from interfering with or
supplanting any business relationship between my
client and my client's client.
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Problems:
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Only one metaphor (the bridge) for a diverse
profession?
There is nothing to understand (the message, the
idea, faithfulness)
End-user needs may conflict with the author’s and/or
the clients.
The market demands more competence than is
available.
The market demands speed, which will conflict with
the highest standards.
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Problem 1
There is a mistake in the dates in Microsoft’s Encarta,
which you are translating.
Should you correct the dates?
Should you tell Microsoft?
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Problem 2
There are mistakes in the full matches in the
translation memory your client has given you.
Do you correct the mistakes?
Should you be paid for that?
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Problem 3
El hombre blanco ha marcado el paso del progreso
humano durante los últimos dos mil años.
The white man has set the pace of human progress
for the last two thousand years.
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Problem 4
The easiest way to get to LA is via London. So I will
fly to London. Please set two open first-class tickets
from Barcelona to LA stopping at New York.
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Hands tied behind back:
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No pure meaning (“transcendental signified”)
No mercenary strategies (“customer always right”)
No human rights in this field
No eternally just causes (because of cultural
relativism)
No neutrality.
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A possible solution
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Translation seeks cooperation (mutual benefits)
between all parties (including the translator).
When the purpose does not provide such benefits, do
not translate.
Do whatever has to be done to achieve the benefits,
including non-translation.
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The roadmap…
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Benefits are in the future.
This is a text awaiting completion
Completion must involve parties who have no
English.
Valid translations can employ shifts to ensure the
involvement of those parties.
(although there are risks involved…)
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