Maintaining high ethical standards is important for any translation service. Translators have a duty of care to the work they undertake and this includes producing a faithful and accurate translation.
Many official bodies, such as the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters, provide strict ethical guidelines to their members. These guidelines help ensure high quality, accurate translations that are culturally sensitive and unlikely to cause harm.
Here is our guide to the best practices of translation:
Spelling and Grammar
The smallest spelling mistake or grammatical error can have huge ramifications, especially on official documents. We all know how the simple misplacement of a comma can affect the meaning of a sentence in English; a famous example is “Eats shoots and leaves.” VS. “Eats, shoots and leaves.”
While mistakes like this can be amusing in our mother tongue, it can be hugely offensive and have serious consequences in another language.
Excellent grammar skills and keen attention to detail are vital for any translation expert. Careless errors can cost translation agencies their fee and their reputation.
Accuracy
It should look like this: In the realm of creative translation, where fictional or academic works are translated, writing style is as important as spelling and grammar. When translating a novel or a thesis, you are responsible for keeping the original work’s spirit alive. This means staying true to the writing style and tone and omitting or adding nothing. You may visit Languex translation if you are in need of fast and accurate USCIS Translation in the future.
Translators that drastically change the writing style risk altering the message of the work. This is a betrayal of trust, since it’s a translator’s job to do justice to the original and stay faithful to the meaning.
Conflicts of Interest
Occasionally, friends and family members may ask you to translate something for them. This could present a conflict of interest if the translation is of a confidential nature or a legal document. In these situations, translators are obliged to disclose any potential conflict of interest or simply pass the work on to an impartial translator.
Not doing so may affect the accuracy of the document or prevent the translation from being accepted.
Confidentiality
Naturally, when dealing with sensitive documents confidentiality is of utmost importance. Translators must not discuss the nature of the documents with anyone but the client, or a colleague, if permitted.
Even if the contents of the document are not legally confidential, the translator should act as though they are.
Cultural Sensitivity
Language is a mysterious thing. Something that is perfectly innocent in one language can cause serious offence in another. Language is constantly evolving too, as cultures experience societal and political change.
Translators must always be aware of cultural changes and use of language to ensure an accurate and harmless translation. Respect and discretion towards the client and the document is expected at all times.
While those we have listed are perhaps the most important ethical considerations, there are others to bear in mind, too. These include:
- Professional conduct – being prepared, well-presented and punctual.
- Proficiency – meeting certain training standards and not accepting work beyond your capabilities.
- Non-discrimination – remaining neutral and impartial and not discriminating on the grounds of race, religion, gender, disability, age, education or political beliefs.
This blog was written by Rob Truslove forAlphatrad – a UK translation agency offering professional services through a network of more than 80 centres worldwide. With over 35 years of experience, Alphatrad is positioned as a leader in certified translations, technical translations and much more. For more info, you can find us at: www.alphatrad.co.uk.
