Translation as a Profession (Benjamins Translation Library)

Chapter 10. Professional ethics 237– always be above board and honest with the work provider or prime contractor;– always comply strictly with the contractual obligation to defend the workprovider’s interests, or, if this should prove incompatible with their feelings, orwith their religious, ethical or moral convictions,usetheclauseofconscienceto terminate the contract, in the knowledge that everyone is free to refuse acontract without having to justify the decision - with the exception of sworntranslators and, to a lesser extent, salaried translators who may however, resortto a clause of conscience;– always protect the work provider’s interests – as long as the latter remainwithin the law and ethics – by making sure the translation shall have noadverse effects on such interests;– always comply with the work provider’s instructions and specifications, orindicate clearly whatever grounds there might be for disagreement and why;– always inform the work provider as soon as it becomes clear that they may notbe able to meet a commitment;– always inform the work provider before sub-contracting any part of a contract.3. In the course of a translation jobProfessional translators shall:– make a true and honest translation in all circumstances and resist any pressureto the contrary;– never make a choice of translation that might turn out to be detrimental to thework provider’s interests, without consulting the work provider beforehand;– never try to interpret the meaning of a source document or modify the contentor structure of a source document without consulting the work provider;– never attempt to translate anything they do not understand;– never try to pass off what is mere guesswork in translation as certain andvalidated;– alwaysnotifythereviserortheworkproviderofanyunresolvedproblemsordifficulties;– never ever compromise on the quality of a translation in terms of meaning,technical accuracy or factual accuracy;– never knowingly compromise on the quality of a translation with regard to theagreed standards without having discussed the matter with the work providerand explaining why the originally agreed standards cannot, or will not, be met;– if incapable, for whatever reason, of fulfilling an assignment within the termsof the contract, ask for the contract to be terminated and hand over anyresources that have already been prepared for the translation;