| Număr de pagini: < [1 2 3 4] > | Do you translate a text if you are against its content? Inițiatorul discuției: Carmen Grabs
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| Quite clearly | Sep 6, 2012 |
Never translate anything you will regret later on. It's best for you, and probably for mankind if you are basically a good person who cares for the rights and wellbeing of fellow humans, animals, and the environment.
[Edited at 2012-09-06 18:15 GMT]
| | | | Andreisds
Brazilia
Local time: 13:39
din engleză în portugheză
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| Sleeping well | Sep 7, 2012 |
I can´t say I´ve ever turned down a job because I disagreed with the general subject matter or the events or the research described therein. But I did turn down a job because it involved the possibility of future investments in an enterprise I am radically against for environmental reasons. As soon as I realized this, I called the client, explained my reasons and politely apologized for not being able to do the job.
But each one of us has their values and their consciousness. The ... See more I can´t say I´ve ever turned down a job because I disagreed with the general subject matter or the events or the research described therein. But I did turn down a job because it involved the possibility of future investments in an enterprise I am radically against for environmental reasons. As soon as I realized this, I called the client, explained my reasons and politely apologized for not being able to do the job.
But each one of us has their values and their consciousness. The important thing is to make sure you can sleep well with your choices. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Apart from the ethics | Sep 7, 2012 |
Apart from the ethics, for which people have been criticized, strangely enough, some things are stomach churning. I translated a document on animal experiments because I had already accepted it when I found out what it was, but afterwards asked the agency never to send me anymore.
I have also turned down a job about weaponry.
But oddly enough what I really hate to translate is hypocrisy. The charitable foundations that I know are just tax-avoidance scams. I haven't yet... See more Apart from the ethics, for which people have been criticized, strangely enough, some things are stomach churning. I translated a document on animal experiments because I had already accepted it when I found out what it was, but afterwards asked the agency never to send me anymore.
I have also turned down a job about weaponry.
But oddly enough what I really hate to translate is hypocrisy. The charitable foundations that I know are just tax-avoidance scams. I haven't yet refused to do one but maybe I should because I find them so repugnant my translation suffers. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Carmen Grabs
Germania
Local time: 18:39
Membru (2012)
din engleză în germană
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INIŢIATORUL SUBIECTULUI | This is not meant in any offensive way ... | Sep 7, 2012 |
... but I am really surprised that so many of you have actually "dared" to refuse a job because of its contents. This gives me courage and hope
Thank you!
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| You are your own boss | Sep 7, 2012 |
Carmen Grabs wrote: ... but I am really surprised that so many of you have actually "dared" to refuse a job because of its contents. This gives me courage and hope Thank you!
You are a business partner, whom the client is inviting to collaborate. You don't have to 'dare' to make your own decisions. The client needs translators as much as we need clients, and perhaps we should dare to tell them OUR preferred terms and conditions more often.
I know this is hard when you are starting out, and there may be long gaps between clients. That is why I use the 'beyond my scope' or 'don't have time' excuses when I turn down work. Good clients repect these, if you imply that the quality of your translation would suffer or something like that.
There is no need to stretch the truth. I would need to spend time reading up on some of these subjects, and don't want to, so I don't know the terminology etc. well enough... It is simply the truth from a different angle.
You have to live with your conscience, and you don't have to live with any particular client.
I hope you soon find some interesting and not-too- controversial work, and best of luck!
| | | | Alessandra Martelli (X) 
Italia
Local time: 18:39
din engleză în italiană
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| No "make money fast online" stuff | Sep 7, 2012 |
Thank you Carmen for starting this thread.
I chose not to translate any "make money fast online" stuff a long ago, and given the global crisis we're experiencing lately I'm more than happy about my decision, because such programs might be a hook for people who are already in need and desperately looking for a way out of the dark - and in most cases those programs are just a scam, or might work well only for those who have a relevant background in some fields.
I know it ... See more Thank you Carmen for starting this thread.
I chose not to translate any "make money fast online" stuff a long ago, and given the global crisis we're experiencing lately I'm more than happy about my decision, because such programs might be a hook for people who are already in need and desperately looking for a way out of the dark - and in most cases those programs are just a scam, or might work well only for those who have a relevant background in some fields.
I know it wouldn't be my responsibility if unaware people would sign up for similar stuff, but as a professional I decided not to promote such content.
For other topics, I agree with Anna Sarah:
Anna Sarah Krämer Fazendeiro wrote:
it is not a question of what, but of why and for who
It is true that we're not paid to have opinions on stuff we translate, but it is more than legit to have your own values and stick to them when evaluating a project - we are professionals, not robots and the chance of working according to my own values is one of the reason why I'm happy about being a FREElancer. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Yasutomo Kanazawa
Japonia
Local time: 01:39
Membru (2005)
din engleză în japoneză
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| Being liberal and broadminded | Sep 8, 2012 |
Tom in London wrote: Claudette Hepburn wrote:
"I also feel that as a translator I am only an instrument."
I agree with that.
It is your job. Imagine that a baker could refuse to sell rich cakes to anybody who is overweight! Or a plumber who refuses to install a particular basin because of the way it is decorated. Or a teacher who only accepts well-behaved pupils!
I would translate anything which comes my way, as long as it is legible. I am not paid to have an opinion on the contents. I am not signing the translated text to be published anyway. No responsibility of mine at all.
Do you feel better now?
Claudette
So if you were asked to translate the technical specifications for a death camp, you'd be happy to do it? Would you happily translate a website for paedophiles or a handbook on torture? Don't you have a break point where you would say no? Come on, I don't believe you ! [Edited at 2012-09-06 10:36 GMT]
As long as there is a decent pay in it, I would take any subject which would be offensive to many people for the following reasons:
1) It's a good business opportunity, since there would be less competition according to what I read in this thread and other similar threads.
2) I take the stance of learning as you go contents-wise, not the techniques of translation, and even those contents which might make you sick or have nightmares would be an added knowledge to yourself.
Tom, I respect your opinion that you wouldn't translate certain topics on moral grounds, but I would take it as a good learning experience, plus, to let the world know the facts about smoking, death camps, etc. which people on moral grounds would never touch and spread the words.
| | | | | Let's push it even farther. | Sep 8, 2012 |
Tom in London wrote:
So if you were asked to translate the technical specifications for a death camp, you'd be happy to do it? Would you happily translate a website for paedophiles or a handbook on torture? Don't you have a break point where you would say no? Come on, I don't believe you !
Would you feel obligated to report to the police a text describing clearly illegal activities? For instance suppose that instead of translating a website for paedophiles, a paedophile contacts you privately with a request to translate correspondence between said paedophile and his or her prospective (or even current) victims. Would failing to report such a request, let alone accepting it, make you complicit in a crime?
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Nicole Schnell
Statele Unite
Local time: 09:39
din engleză în germană
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In Memoriam
Richard Bartholomew wrote:
Would you feel obligated to report to the police a text describing clearly illegal activities? For instance suppose that instead of translating a website for paedophiles, a paedophile contacts you privately with a request to translate correspondence between said paedophile and his or her prospective (or even current) victims. Would failing to report such a request, let alone accepting it, make you complicit in a crime?
But the client must be informed. Very often translation agencies literally don't know what they are doing.
Recently I was asked to translate some "medical license" from German into English. Ahem, I know how those thingies look like. Some direct client had copied the coat of arms of the German state Baden-Württemberg from the internet, concocted a letterhead and - of all things! - a pseudo-medical license. No stamp, the signature obviously copied from a low-resolution file. I sent it to a police officer (friend of mine) who confirmed my suspicion. I notified the agency and declined the job.
| | | | | No "unacceptable content" for me )) | Sep 9, 2012 |
I do see the reason behind most of the statements in this thread and have deep respect for all of the posters and their decisions.
For me personally though (since I deal mostly with fiction that could involve anything - sex, violence, crime, you name it!) there's no such thing as "unacceptable content". I'd gladly translate an all-decent family saga as well as a horror movie script. Actually, that's the diversity of subjects/content that I like about my job.
On the othe... See more I do see the reason behind most of the statements in this thread and have deep respect for all of the posters and their decisions.
For me personally though (since I deal mostly with fiction that could involve anything - sex, violence, crime, you name it!) there's no such thing as "unacceptable content". I'd gladly translate an all-decent family saga as well as a horror movie script. Actually, that's the diversity of subjects/content that I like about my job.
On the other hand, if I was ever approached with the request to translate some clearly illegal content, I'd simply report the issue to the authorities concerned. Most probably, without even entering into any communication or discussion with the sender. ▲ Collapse
| | | | apk12
Germania
Local time: 18:39
din engleză în germană
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| Ethics in the translation business | Nov 23, 2012 |
Excuse me, I surely do not want to spam this discussion thread, but I am quite sure I will search for this thread earlier or later and when I will do this, I will search for related ones, too.
That's why I would like to post "across links" (not backlinks, but across links, links across and right through that discussion area - area in order not to overuse the word "field" again)
... See more Excuse me, I surely do not want to spam this discussion thread, but I am quite sure I will search for this thread earlier or later and when I will do this, I will search for related ones, too.
That's why I would like to post "across links" (not backlinks, but across links, links across and right through that discussion area - area in order not to overuse the word "field" again)
link 1, Tom in London starts the thread "What type of translation work have you refused on moral grounds?"
link 2, Eva Jodar starts the thread "Ethical dilemma - feedback needed"
Regarding the question above: "would you report..." - well, if you ever hear of a single country on earth claiming that NDA's between business partners or the implicit confidentiality between them is stronger than the legal grounds the company is built upon, this would indeed surely be someting I would prefer to be informed about. Illegal activities are illegal activities, full stop. And (see link 2 above), there are some special cases that are so dangerous to the public in cases of assignments landing on irresponsible desks after world trips, so dangerous, that in such cases you have the obligation to act faster, if you ask me. Personally, I did not come across such a case yet, but this does not mean I am absolutely sure they can't happen.
In less dangerous cases for the public, so in cases where this is 'just' illegal activity, in most cases not even NDA's or implied confidentiality applies, since you recognize them before anything can start. This is another of those many, many reasons why seeing the source document before accepting any order is so crucial. In case I -would- find myself in a situation with a signed frame NDA, the mentioned stronger and havier law simply would apply, there is simply no other answer, sure. The rest is pure theory - imagine a company you are cooperating successfully for a longer time, things work out fine, and then totally suddenly something that surprises you... suddenly a request for the translation of a document involving illegal activities - would you warn them first to get out of it - no, this is too much theory. This would mean a company you are cooperating with for a longer time and it would suddenly have a PM or PM's that give reasons to think they do not really know what they are doing. Would be very dubious.
But - when cooperating directly with clients - you of course have to be careful.
[Edited at 2012-11-23 23:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Anne Pinaglia
Ţările de Jos
Local time: 18:39
din italiană în engleză
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I was asked by one of my favorite agencies to translate a breeding license for a very famous Italian puppy mill that supplied beagles (dogs) to labs for testing and research. It was unclear what the breeding license was intended for (they had been shut down, thank goodness) - either way I was having nothing to do with it. I felt a bit awkward explaining that the document to be translated just didn't sit right with me ethically and that in good conscience I just couldn't accept it, but much to my... See more I was asked by one of my favorite agencies to translate a breeding license for a very famous Italian puppy mill that supplied beagles (dogs) to labs for testing and research. It was unclear what the breeding license was intended for (they had been shut down, thank goodness) - either way I was having nothing to do with it. I felt a bit awkward explaining that the document to be translated just didn't sit right with me ethically and that in good conscience I just couldn't accept it, but much to my (pleasant!) surprise, the PM replied quickly stating that she of course had no idea what the document was and that she totally understood why I wouldn't want to translate it, as it bothered her a lot as well.
Long story short, the PM got back to me about a half an hour later and informed me that the agency declined to provide the translation for their client, stating the same ethical reasons. I was quite shocked, and it also reiterated why this agency is one of my favorites. Turns out it was for a lawsuit against the puppy mill for failing to provide beagles for animal testing for XYZ company that is probably on a lot of labels of products that people reading this post have in their cupboards.
I have also turned down a long translation for some type of box that confines cows upside-down so they can be killed quicker and easier on an assembly line.
I would certainly decline anything that was against my ethics and morals and not feel badly about it.
Anne
[Edited at 2012-11-24 17:54 GMT]
[Edited at 2012-11-24 17:55 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Carmen Grabs
Germania
Local time: 18:39
Membru (2012)
din engleză în germană
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INIŢIATORUL SUBIECTULUI | Well done, Anne, | Nov 24, 2012 |
thank you so much in the names of the animals who cannot speak and who still do not have the rights to live a free and happy life.
| | | | Kay Denney
Franţa
Local time: 18:39
din franceză în engleză
Paul Dixon wrote:
I think I have already mentioned this in another thread somewhere.
Although it has never happened to me, I would not translate 1) texts defending homophobia or any other form of discrimination 2) texts about bomb manufacture or other texts related to or defending war 3) visual pornographic texts, 4) texts in favour of crime or for terrorist organisations.
I have another doubt - I hope to have my site soon, should I put these restrictions on the site or would this make me lose other clients and hence badly-needed work?
There is another doubt - if I have to translate political/religious texts I don't agree with, would it be correct (or legal) to do the work and add a disclaimer at the bottom or as an attached document? Something along the lines of "This does not necessarily represent the opinion of the translator"?
There are hundreds of subjects I refuse to have anything to do with: I'm veggie so I refuse anything to do with slaughterhouses, hunting or fishing. I'm a pacifist so I would refuse anything from the military, I would also refuse anything about pesticides and GM modified food, obviously I would refuse anything that seemed illegal in any way, or degrading to any people or animals;
It might be quicker to list the jobs I am prepared to take in fact...
However I wouldn't ever put anything about my personal beliefs on a website.
Most of my clients are in fashion, textiles, luxury products, and as an interesting sideline I also do organic, sustainable development or eco-friendly topics (not as well paid but the luxury stuff more than makes up for it). Famous manufacturers of crystal jewellery or overpriced T-shirts couldn't care less about my ethics. They would never actually send me anything I could possibly object to, and most would think me weird if they knew even a quarter of what I wrote in my first paragraph. My being "weird" doesn't actually matter to them, so long as I do the job as required.
I was recently sent a text about gloves, by an agency rather than a direct client, and I accepted it, then when I got round to translating it (at the very last minute!) I realised that it was in fact about gloves for fishermen, with special reinforcements to prevent them injuring themselves on the hook as they prised the fish off. Well I couldn't possibly do the research on that, so I did the translation using just Linguee, and sent it back with a short list of terms that would have to be checked thoroughly by the editor. I had already told the agency about my no fishing no hunting policy, the PM hadn't read beyond the first paragraph before saying "gloves: this is for Texte".
I billed as usual and the agency still sends me work.
| | | | | Adult content on the edge of legality | Nov 25, 2012 |
I had just started out as a translator when I got the offer to do translations for a Dutch magazine called Koinos (I guess I can name it openly now, since the history is all in the public domain). They sent me a copy, and when i looked at it, I mainly saw pictures of barely clothed adolescents in quite dubious poses. I rejected. A couple of years later, I found out that the magazine was outlawed because of child pornography. Well, at least mine name was never associated with it. Not that money w... See more I had just started out as a translator when I got the offer to do translations for a Dutch magazine called Koinos (I guess I can name it openly now, since the history is all in the public domain). They sent me a copy, and when i looked at it, I mainly saw pictures of barely clothed adolescents in quite dubious poses. I rejected. A couple of years later, I found out that the magazine was outlawed because of child pornography. Well, at least mine name was never associated with it. Not that money would have changed anything about my decision, but the rate they proposed, was lousy anyway. ▲ Collapse
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