Ethical considerations are more important in the interpretation and translation field than in any other industry. This is because the other person depends on you to understand the message in a language they are not fluent in. Here are a few things you need to consider when it comes to ethics in interpretation and translation.
Confidentiality
A translator or interpreter might have to handle confidential or sensitive information. Your clients need to be sure that they can trust you and that you will not share the details with others. The translator should respect the privacy and confidentiality of the information present in the documents the client gives to translate. You can sometimes discuss the information if the law requires it. Otherwise, all information you get should not be disclosed, divulged, or reproduced.
Cultural Misunderstandings
In many situations, translating information is not enough. As an expert, you must understand cultural differences in both languages that can interfere with effective communication. If you are an interpreter and something arises due to cultural differences, it’s your responsibility to help your client to bridge the misunderstanding.
There are cases where the misunderstanding arises from the interpretation or translator. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to anticipate and resolve misunderstandings. You need to effectively communicate the original meaning to avoid any issues.
Biases
Biases in the interpretation and translation process are considered a misinterpretation of meaning and a lack of conceptual equivalence. A translator or interpreter may understand the concept based on their beliefs and opinions.
However, when it comes to translators need to understand the text based on the writer’s point of view, while interpreters need to translate the other language exactly to what they have heard or read.
As an expert, you need to understand complicated phrases, thoughts, cultural sayings, or clichés that can be difficult to interrelate easily. Try to stick to clear statements without being judgmental and ensure as little ambiguity as possible.
Accuracy
Translators and interpreters are hired for their ability to appropriately understand what the client is saying and convey it correctly to others. The translator needs to translate accurately, which means it should preserve the source document’s style, meaning, and register.
And in the case of interpretation, you need to notice that communication is not just done not verbally but also through body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions. They also need to make eye contact to pick up nonverbal cues.
Bottom Line
In a nutshell, there are several things in regard to an ethic that a translator and interpreter need to keep in mind to stay honest with their job. If you need translation services and want to ensure no ethical violation occurs, Green Translations is here to help you.
We are a team of experts who use modern methods for the process. We have world-class linguists to help you with your translation needs at affordable rates. Contact us today for a free quote or to talk to our manager.