Translation as a Profession (Benjamins Translation Library)

chapter 10Professional ethicsIntroductionAny bona fide translator will tacitly comply with an ethical code. The one belowis based on (a) a survey of agreements between translators and their businesspartners and (b) over 200 telephone and e-mail interviews conducted in 1998–99 among translators in a number of European countries as part of a translationquality management project (MLIS3010 – 24928) and repeated on a largerscale in 2004.1. Basic rulesProfessional translators shall:– never undertake any action or engage in any practice liable to throw theprofession or professionals into disrepute;– always show respect for other people and their opinions, especially whenwriting to mailing lists and Web forums;– always comply with the laws and regulations relating to tax and social securityor other mandatory contributions in force at the place of work;– always make available and use all resources needed to carry out the agreed orcontractual tasks in compliance with the required standards;– never knowingly cheat a client (in particular, by concealing the fact that asource document is already available in translation);– always resist any attempt to restrict their intellectual freedom and any pressuresdesigned to make them knowingly produce a deliberately distorted, orinaccurate, or misleading translation;– be prepared to admit full liability for any deficiencies, errors or failings inthe translation, unless such deficiencies, errors or failings be the result ofdeficiencies, errors or failings in the source material, or of failure on thepart of the work provider to carry out his contractual or commonly acceptedobligations or duties;