Notes on the ethics of the translator, Part 1

TL;DR

This content discusses the concepts of ethics, deontology, and norms in translation and interpretation, exploring different perspectives such as fidelity, loyalty, and the avoidance of misunderstandings.

Transcript

there are some basic distinctions that we have to make okay in some european languages you have ethics as a concern about what is right and wrong in behavior and then you have a word deontology which really concerns best practice in a profession and deontology would come close to what in english is a code of ethics you know you belong to a professi... Read More

Key Insights

• 👋 Ethics in translation and interpretation can be distinguished from deontology, with ethics being a broader philosophical concern and deontology focusing on the best practices within a profession.
• 👋 Norms in translation and interpretation can vary across cultures and historical periods, making it challenging to define universal best practices.
• 👯 Different approaches to ethics in translation and interpretation include fidelity to the source text, loyalty to the people involved, and the provision of service to the audience or clients.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the difference between ethics and deontology in the context of translation and interpretation?

Ethics refers to the broader philosophical concern about what is right and wrong, while deontology specifically focuses on the best practices and code of ethics within a profession, such as translation and interpretation.

Q: How do norms affect translation and interpretation?

Norms can vary across historical periods and cultures, making it challenging to define universal best practices. Different cultures and time periods may have different expectations and approaches to translation and interpretation.

Q: What are the key concepts in the ethics of translation and interpretation?

The key concepts include fidelity to the source text, loyalty to the people involved, service to the audience or clients, and the avoidance of misunderstandings.

Q: What is the role of trustworthiness in translation and interpretation ethics?

Trustworthiness is considered a virtue in translation and interpretation ethics and is reflected in the codes of ethics of various professional associations. It involves earning the trust of clients or audience by providing high-quality and reliable translations or interpretations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The content explains the distinction between ethics and deontology, where ethics refers to the broader philosophical concern about what is right and wrong, and deontology is a code of ethics specific to a profession.

• It discusses the role of norms in translation and interpretation, highlighting that norms can vary across historical periods and cultures, making it difficult to define best practices.

• The content explores the concepts of fidelity, loyalty, and service as different approaches to ethics in translation and interpretation, emphasizing the importance of trustworthiness and avoiding misunderstandings.

• It presents various codes of ethics, such as the American Translators Association (ATA) code, which prioritize professionalism, respect, and honesty.