| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Ethical dilemma - feedback needed Thread poster: Eva Jodar (X)
|
|---|
Eva Jodar (X)
Spain
Local time: 00:53
Catalan to Spanish
+ ...
Dear all,
Translating is (also) to help people to understand each other and get their purposes become real, for example: a sale of a house between two clients from different countries cannot take place if a translator don't translate the contract of sale. Forgive me about my english, please.
The cuestion is: would you translate a text that helps people to do something that you think is not good for other, for example, the construction of a nuclear power station, if your convic... See more Dear all,
Translating is (also) to help people to understand each other and get their purposes become real, for example: a sale of a house between two clients from different countries cannot take place if a translator don't translate the contract of sale. Forgive me about my english, please.
The cuestion is: would you translate a text that helps people to do something that you think is not good for other, for example, the construction of a nuclear power station, if your convictions are against nuclear energy? We all need money, and if we don't do the translation it won't disturb even a bit the hole thing, because another translator will do it, but even so, even so...... what would you do?
Thanks for answering ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Take it or leave it... | Nov 22, 2012 |
Hi there, I think we've had this question before, quite recently.
The first point is that you need to know the purpose of the translation in order to make a value judgement about it, i.e. is its purpose to disseminate an opinion or information etc. or is it merely reporting of that opinion or information.
The second point is that it's your choice - if I was offered a translation which I genuinely considered to be morally or ethically offensive, I would simply decline it... See more Hi there, I think we've had this question before, quite recently.
The first point is that you need to know the purpose of the translation in order to make a value judgement about it, i.e. is its purpose to disseminate an opinion or information etc. or is it merely reporting of that opinion or information.
The second point is that it's your choice - if I was offered a translation which I genuinely considered to be morally or ethically offensive, I would simply decline it.
Best wishes,
Steve K. ▲ Collapse
| | | | alba79
Local time: 00:53
Italian to Arabic
+ ...
| Do what you believe to be right. | Nov 22, 2012 |
Dear Eva,
it's true that if you don't do the translation somebody else would do it! but i think if you're a person of values, you should keep your conscious clean and listen to your heart... but from a professional point of view, it's going to be a very rich experience for learning new lexicon and gaining a bit of money in these days of economic crisis. it's really hard to decide, but I think that when a doctor tries to save a person who commited a crime wouldn't let him die for preventin... See more Dear Eva,
it's true that if you don't do the translation somebody else would do it! but i think if you're a person of values, you should keep your conscious clean and listen to your heart... but from a professional point of view, it's going to be a very rich experience for learning new lexicon and gaining a bit of money in these days of economic crisis. it's really hard to decide, but I think that when a doctor tries to save a person who commited a crime wouldn't let him die for preventing him from committing another one, all jobs has it's ethics and we should try to make our choices on the basis of what we believe to satisfy our morals.
Good luck for your choice.
Alba. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | No, I would not! | Nov 22, 2012 |
As a professional translator, I try to leave my causes, my biases, my likes and dislikes and my morality at a good distance from my translation desk, but for me it is a question of comfort level — if you are not comfortable working on a project, you are certainly not going to be able to turn out your best work. If something feels wrong to me, I am willing to walk away from the money. I would refuse jobs, and I have in the past, on gambling, obscene or pornographic material, military weapons, r... See more As a professional translator, I try to leave my causes, my biases, my likes and dislikes and my morality at a good distance from my translation desk, but for me it is a question of comfort level — if you are not comfortable working on a project, you are certainly not going to be able to turn out your best work. If something feels wrong to me, I am willing to walk away from the money. I would refuse jobs, and I have in the past, on gambling, obscene or pornographic material, military weapons, racism… ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Ali Alsaqqa 
United States
Local time: 18:53
English to Arabic
| I have done that before | Nov 22, 2012 |
I have refused texts that promotes:
* Tobacco
* Alcohol
* Violence (Video Games)
* Cosmetic Surgeries
So if I am offered this Nuclear Energy text, and it is promoting the idea, I would simply refuse.
After all, this is my life and money cannot control it!
| | | | Eva Jodar (X)
Spain
Local time: 00:53
Catalan to Spanish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
you are great, thank you very much!
| | | | | Just do what will make you feel right | Nov 23, 2012 |
If you think that doing the translation will make you feel bad later on, just do not do it. I am quite sure other translators will not have a problem with that type of work, and will probably reject translations about things you would love to translate about.
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 00:53
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Don't think of this as an ethical question | Nov 23, 2012 |
Eva Jodar wrote:
Would you translate a text that helps people to do something that you think is not good for others...
This is not an ethical question but a personal one.
You are a freelance translator, not an employee, which means that you are completely free to choose which topics you want to translate or not translate. If there is a list of topics that you know you won't translate, then put that list on your web site -- it will save clients time, and a client with time saved is a happy client. If you can't tell in advance which topics do not interest you, then your duty as a translator is to tell the client as soon as humanly possible after receiving the text that you do not want to translate it.
It may also be an idea to let clients know in advance that you're a squeamish translator (though you'd have to use a different word), even if you can't tell them in advance which topics they needn't bother with.
For me, the big question is whether you should tell the client *why* you refuse the job. Is it sufficient to say, "Sorry, I don't do translation of nuclear power plant materials" or are you somehow morally obligated to give a reason, e.g. "Sorry, I don't feel comfortable translating nuclear power plant materials" or "Sorry, my religion forbids me to translate this", or even to come up with an excuse, e.g. "Sorry, but my neighbour/cousin/wife would be angry if I translate this"?
Samuel
| | |
|
|
|
Attila Piróth
France
Local time: 00:53
Member
English to Hungarian
+ ...
| Previous thread | Nov 23, 2012 |
Eva, you may find some useful insights in a recent thread called [url=http://www.proz.com/forum/translation_theory_and_practice/232175-do_you_translate_a_text_if_you_are_against_its_content.html]
Do you translate a text if you are against its content?[/url]
For a deeper analysis, I would highly recommend Mona Baker's In Other Words (2nd edition), which devotes a... See more Eva, you may find some useful insights in a recent thread called [url=http://www.proz.com/forum/translation_theory_and_practice/232175-do_you_translate_a_text_if_you_are_against_its_content.html]
Do you translate a text if you are against its content?[/url]
For a deeper analysis, I would highly recommend Mona Baker's In Other Words (2nd edition), which devotes an entire chapter to ethics and morality.
Best,
Attila ▲ Collapse
| | | | Eva Jodar (X)
Spain
Local time: 00:53
Catalan to Spanish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | I think yes, it's necessary to tell the reason | Nov 23, 2012 |
for a good relationship comunication is necessary, even if it's a professional one. If you just say "no", the client can imagine anything, and you don't let him to know you. You can work like this, but you can work also knowing the person, is more human. (I think). If he don't like your reason, doesn't matter, another will like it. Usually the reason is not personal, as "because my neighbour told me not to translate it", don't you think so? ... See more for a good relationship comunication is necessary, even if it's a professional one. If you just say "no", the client can imagine anything, and you don't let him to know you. You can work like this, but you can work also knowing the person, is more human. (I think). If he don't like your reason, doesn't matter, another will like it. Usually the reason is not personal, as "because my neighbour told me not to translate it", don't you think so? Then, in religious matters, it can be personal, so I don't know wht I'd do in that case...
Samuel Murray wrote: Eva Jodar wrote:
Would you translate a text that helps people to do something that you think is not good for others... This is not an ethical question but a personal one. You are a freelance translator, not an employee, which means that you are completely free to choose which topics you want to translate or not translate. If there is a list of topics that you know you won't translate, then put that list on your web site -- it will save clients time, and a client with time saved is a happy client. If you can't tell in advance which topics do not interest you, then your duty as a translator is to tell the client as soon as humanly possible after receiving the text that you do not want to translate it. It may also be an idea to let clients know in advance that you're a squeamish translator (though you'd have to use a different word), even if you can't tell them in advance which topics they needn't bother with. For me, the big question is whether you should tell the client *why* you refuse the job. Is it sufficient to say, "Sorry, I don't do translation of nuclear power plant materials" or are you somehow morally obligated to give a reason, e.g. "Sorry, I don't feel comfortable translating nuclear power plant materials" or "Sorry, my religion forbids me to translate this", or even to come up with an excuse, e.g. "Sorry, but my neighbour/cousin/wife would be angry if I translate this"? Samuel ▲ Collapse
| | | | Eva Jodar (X)
Spain
Local time: 00:53
Catalan to Spanish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Thank you for the information! | Nov 23, 2012 |
I'll go there, when I'll have time, maybe this weekend...
Attila Piróth wrote: Eva, you may find some useful insights in a recent thread called [url=http://www.proz.com/forum/translation_theory_and_practice/232175-do_you_translate_a_text_if_you_are_against_its_content.html] Do you translate a text if you are against its content?[/url] For a deeper analysis, I would highly recommend Mona Baker's In Other Words (2nd edition), which devotes an entire chapter to ethics and morality. Best, Attila
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 00:53
Spanish to English
+ ...
| No one loves the messenger who brings bad news | Nov 23, 2012 |
Being able to say no to jobs we don't like is a luxury and one of the privileges of working freelance. But one man's (or woman's, etc) meat is another's poison. Refusing a translation about Nuclear Energy just because you don't agree with it is just cutting off your nose to spite your face IMHO, and the issue is not going to go away because of said refusal.
Obviously there are some areas that are extremely distasteful, or offend our sensibilities one way or another, but needs must when t... See more Being able to say no to jobs we don't like is a luxury and one of the privileges of working freelance. But one man's (or woman's, etc) meat is another's poison. Refusing a translation about Nuclear Energy just because you don't agree with it is just cutting off your nose to spite your face IMHO, and the issue is not going to go away because of said refusal.
Obviously there are some areas that are extremely distasteful, or offend our sensibilities one way or another, but needs must when the devil drives and I don't think someone who is desperate for money is going to be all that fussy.
As the saying goes, "don't shoot the messenger"! ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
David Wright
Austria
Local time: 00:53
German to English
+ ...
| I always refuse texts that are aiming to achieve something unethical | Nov 23, 2012 |
like selling tobacco, pushing religion, encouraging gambling, propaganda by right-wing parties, but then I have enough clients to let me afford such a luxury!
| | | | 564354352 (X)
Denmark
Local time: 00:53
Danish to English
+ ...
| Never work on jobs that make you feel uncomfortable | Nov 23, 2012 |
... for whatever reason.
I don't think there can be any rights or wrongs in respect to what you accept to translate, it is entirely up to you. Yes, you may turn down jobs that will then be picked up by others, but that's the case with all kinds of work in our business.
Personally, I don't try to make other people (clients) think the way I think, so, for instance, I am a vegetarian and find the slaughtering of animals for human consumption abhorrent, but I still translat... See more ... for whatever reason.
I don't think there can be any rights or wrongs in respect to what you accept to translate, it is entirely up to you. Yes, you may turn down jobs that will then be picked up by others, but that's the case with all kinds of work in our business.
Personally, I don't try to make other people (clients) think the way I think, so, for instance, I am a vegetarian and find the slaughtering of animals for human consumption abhorrent, but I still translate texts about cooling systems for livestock houses and have no qualms about that. Nor would it bother me to translate recipes for dishes that include meat. On the other hand, I would never dream of translating texts that promoted bad treatment of children or anything racist or in other way discriminatory.
Fortunately, I don't have clients that present me with such dilemmas... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Eva Jodar (X)
Spain
Local time: 00:53
Catalan to Spanish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | yes, that's the point | Nov 23, 2012 |
the luxury of the choice!
David Wright wrote:
like selling tobacco, pushing religion, encouraging gambling, propaganda by right-wing parties, but then I have enough clients to let me afford such a luxury!
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Ethical dilemma - feedback needed | CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
| | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
