| Страниц в теме: [1 2] > | The ethics of translating Автор темы: Ron Hartong PhD (X)
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Ron Hartong PhD (X)
Local time: 09:38
испанский => английский
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What do you do when you have to translate a statement that is wrong? Where does wrong begin and end?
Whereas in a number of fields (politics, arts, humanities) statements may be a matter of opinion or ideology, in other fields (science, engineering) statements may be absolutely wrong.
There are two extremes: one is to simply translate and to keep your opinion to yourself, and the other is to refuse to translate the incorrect statement. I personally go for something in between: I give... See more What do you do when you have to translate a statement that is wrong? Where does wrong begin and end?
Whereas in a number of fields (politics, arts, humanities) statements may be a matter of opinion or ideology, in other fields (science, engineering) statements may be absolutely wrong.
There are two extremes: one is to simply translate and to keep your opinion to yourself, and the other is to refuse to translate the incorrect statement. I personally go for something in between: I give a correct translation of the incorrect statement, and in a commentary I point out the mistake (plus a translation of what I think the statement should have been).
How do you handle these issues? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Elizabeth Adams 
США
Local time: 00:38
Член ProZ.com c 2002
русский => английский
I think that's the only way to handle it. When I see a factual error, I highlight it and offer a correction in the margin.
| | | | Henry Hinds
США
Local time: 01:38
английский => испанский
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Памяти | How to Handle | Feb 10, 2011 |
It's very simple. If the document was produced by your client, you handle it with your client. If the document was not produced by your client, you handle it with [sic] and perhaps also a note when appropriate. That's it.
| | | | | I'm not sure this is a question about ethics. | Feb 10, 2011 |
And I agree with Elizabeth - just put a translator's note. It happens all the time.
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Giles Watson
Италия
Local time: 09:38
итальянский => английский
Памяти | What's the problem? | Feb 10, 2011 |
Here's a practical example from a wine review I had on my desk this afternoon.
There's a phrase in the piece about the liqueur d'expédition for a classic method sparkling wine which claimed the amount added was "4 gradi al litro" (four degrees per litre).
This makes no sense. I emailed my contact at publisher concerned to suggest that it should be "4 grammi al litro" (four grams per litre). The answer came back in less than half an hour to say that the taster's notes h... See more Here's a practical example from a wine review I had on my desk this afternoon.
There's a phrase in the piece about the liqueur d'expédition for a classic method sparkling wine which claimed the amount added was "4 gradi al litro" (four degrees per litre).
This makes no sense. I emailed my contact at publisher concerned to suggest that it should be "4 grammi al litro" (four grams per litre). The answer came back in less than half an hour to say that the taster's notes had been wrongly transcribed and yes, the "gradi" were actually "grammi".
It is in everyone's interest that the translated text should be as accurate as possible so I tend to apply the principle that "the only silly question is the one you couldn't be bothered to ask".
Obviously, you have to be diplomatic but this is a question of common sense, not ethics. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ron Hartong PhD (X)
Local time: 09:38
испанский => английский
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Автор темы | Common sense vs ethics | Feb 10, 2011 |
Hi Giles,
I wish my communications with my clients were always as fluent as the one you are referring to. In my experience clients often don't reply until after the deadline of turning in the translation.
In the example you are giving, I would have translated it as "four degrees" and would have put in a comment, saying something like "are you sure you don't mean grammi (grams)?"
I think the final responsibility of the translator is to give a correct translation of the source te... See more Hi Giles,
I wish my communications with my clients were always as fluent as the one you are referring to. In my experience clients often don't reply until after the deadline of turning in the translation.
In the example you are giving, I would have translated it as "four degrees" and would have put in a comment, saying something like "are you sure you don't mean grammi (grams)?"
I think the final responsibility of the translator is to give a correct translation of the source text, irrespective of whether this makes sense on not, whereas the person who sends you the text to be translated holds the final responsibility for the actual contents of the text. Obviously, errors in the source text may have far-reaching results (imagine you are translating a doctor's prescription) and therefore I feel the translator has the moral duty to point out such errors, but not to freely reinterpret them and translate them differently, based on common sense.
There you go, I threw in some words like "responsibility" and "moral duty" and suddenly we are talking ethics.
I agree that using common sense can avoid a lot of problems, but this only works when both parties are willing to use it and are having a fluid communication - which is alas not always the case. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Steven Capsuto
США
Local time: 03:38
Член ProZ.com c 2004
испанский => английский
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| Depends on the deadline | Feb 10, 2011 |
If it's a tight turn-around time (which means I'm working after my client's workday ends), I translate it as written and address the issue in the cover e-mail when I deliver the job.
If the deadline is more generous, I query the client about how to proceed. They almost always thank me, acknowledge the error and send a revised version of the source text for that segment.
My experience with these things has generally been with clients who are trying to produce an accurate... See more If it's a tight turn-around time (which means I'm working after my client's workday ends), I translate it as written and address the issue in the cover e-mail when I deliver the job.
If the deadline is more generous, I query the client about how to proceed. They almost always thank me, acknowledge the error and send a revised version of the source text for that segment.
My experience with these things has generally been with clients who are trying to produce an accurate text dealing with science or history. However, I suppose there are also cases where a client, for political or marketing purposes, wishes to mislead people. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Obey to wrong texts but.. | Feb 11, 2011 |
I obey to wrong texts but give comments so that client know what is what. I really take serious of ethical points since I handle most technical/legal jobs.
Soonthon Lupkitaro
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Giles Watson
Италия
Local time: 09:38
итальянский => английский
Памяти | Words of wisdom | Feb 11, 2011 |
Ron Hartong PhD wrote:
I agree that using common sense can avoid a lot of problems, but this only works when both parties are willing to use it and are having a fluid communication - which is alas not always the case.
True enough. If you work for agencies and the like, you might not get a reply at once but it's always worth asking.
Otherwise, as my old classics master used to tell us, "If all else fails, just translate what the Greek actually says".
And, as you rightly add, flag it up for the client.
| | | | | We have to be professional, but have a right to refuse work | Feb 11, 2011 |
First of all, I think we should not correct details and facts in a text unless it has been agreed with the customer beforehand. We could have misunderstood the matter or might be wrong. If contact/agreement with the customer before the deadline is not possible, we should translate the text as is, and report the issue on delivery, including the alternative, correct translation for the customer to use.
As for more sensitive things, like political, social, or religious questions, or qu... See more First of all, I think we should not correct details and facts in a text unless it has been agreed with the customer beforehand. We could have misunderstood the matter or might be wrong. If contact/agreement with the customer before the deadline is not possible, we should translate the text as is, and report the issue on delivery, including the alternative, correct translation for the customer to use.
As for more sensitive things, like political, social, or religious questions, or quite simply marketing claims we suspect, feel, or know are wrong, it is NOT our duty to correct the text according to our knowledge or belief. Our duty is just to translate the text.
Of course we always the right to politely reject a translation if we don't want to touch the matter for whatever reason. In my case, the only limit I set myself is that there is no violation of human rights. I usually translate anything else and am not bothered about whether people's claims in the text are right or wrong. The older I get, the more I understand that people are entitled to being in a mental mess if so they desire.
[Edited at 2011-02-11 09:12 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ron Hartong PhD (X)
Local time: 09:38
испанский => английский
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Автор темы | Blatantly wrong source text | Feb 11, 2011 |
Hi Tomás,
I absolutely agree with what you say. I think it boils down to respecting the client - although the way you formulate it in your last sentence is much funnier. Nevertheless, especially in fields like science, there are cases where the source text maybe blatantly wrong - there may be internal inconsistencies even within one word.
I'll give you an almost real-life example (I changed the formula involved):
I was recently asked to translate the formula 3,5,... See more Hi Tomás,
I absolutely agree with what you say. I think it boils down to respecting the client - although the way you formulate it in your last sentence is much funnier. Nevertheless, especially in fields like science, there are cases where the source text maybe blatantly wrong - there may be internal inconsistencies even within one word.
I'll give you an almost real-life example (I changed the formula involved):
I was recently asked to translate the formula 3,5,3'-diiodothyrobine into English. There was no context, there was time-pressure, and I had no way of contacting the client in time.
There are two problems with the formula: one is that "thyrobine" does not exist, and the other is that there is an internal inconsistency, since the "di" implies that the molecule contains two Iodines, whereas the 3,5,3' implies that the molecule contains three Iodines.
I translated the formula as 3,5,3'-diiodothyronine (that is, I corrected the typo but did not change rest), and commented the formula saying something like "I believe there is a typo here and that thyronine was meant." Since I did not want to give the impression of being a wise-guy, and to avoid having to list all the possibilities that might solve the internal inconsistency, I added in the same comment something like "Given the previous typo, it is possible that "di" should be "tri", which would give 3,5,3'-triiiodothyronine, also known as thyroid hormone".
Another translator saw my translation, and wrote me a note saying that the translation was not correct, given the internal inconsistency. When I replied that I had given a translation of the source text, I received the answer that we were not dealing with translations but with chemistry, and that the chemistry was wrong. I was further accused of "being ethically irresponsible" and of "interpreting source text at random".
I politely pointed out to the translator that I had expressed my doubts in a comment and that the final responsibility lay with the client, but I never received an answer.
Whereas I am aware that this is a somewhat unusual experience, it did make me wonder if I had done something wrong and if other translators would have acted differently in a case like this. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Laurent KRAULAND (X)
Франция
Local time: 09:38
французский => немецкий
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| Don't accept accusations! | Feb 11, 2011 |
Ron Hartong PhD wrote:
(.../....)
Another translator saw my translation, and wrote me a note saying that the translation was not correct, given the internal inconsistency. When I replied that I had given a translation of the source text, I received the answer that we were not dealing with translations but with chemistry, and that the chemistry was wrong. I was further accused of "being ethically irresponsible" and of "interpreting source text at random".
I politely pointed out to the translator that I had expressed my doubts in a comment and that the final responsibility lay with the client, but I never received an answer.
Ron,
you did what had to be done. Receiving no answer from the other translator could mean that they simply understood your point.
I would nevertheless have expected at least a small "Sorry, see what you mean" for the sake of fairness. This is also a part of translation ethics.
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Giles Watson
Италия
Local time: 09:38
итальянский => английский
Памяти
Ron Hartong PhD wrote:
Another translator saw my translation, and wrote me a note saying that the translation was not correct, given the internal inconsistency. When I replied that I had given a translation of the source text, I received the answer that we were not dealing with translations but with chemistry,
Unless I've missed something, the author was dealing with chemistry. You and your colleague were translating.
and that the chemistry was wrong.
At least you agreed on that.
I was further accused of "being ethically irresponsible" and of "interpreting source text at random".
I think your colleague must have been having a bad hair day.
I politely pointed out to the translator that I had expressed my doubts in a comment and that the final responsibility lay with the client, but I never received an answer.
S/he probably hadn't spotted the comment and was too embarrassed to reply.
FWIW
| | | | | An irresponsible translator | Feb 11, 2011 |
Ron Hartong PhD wrote:
Another translator saw my translation, and wrote me a note saying that the translation was not correct, given the internal inconsistency. When I replied that I had given a translation of the source text, I received the answer that we were not dealing with translations but with chemistry, and that the chemistry was wrong. I was further accused of "being ethically irresponsible" and of "interpreting source text at random".
All I can say is that this second translator was irresponsible for judging your work before knowing that you had reported the potential issue to the customer, who is ultimately the responsible party.
In my opinion, you acted in a sensible manner since you did not touch things (other than an obvious typo) without reporting the matter to the customer.
| | | | Neil Coffey
Великобритания
Local time: 08:38
французский => английский
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| Intelligent highlighting to the client | Feb 11, 2011 |
Ron Hartong PhD wrote:
Whereas I am aware that this is a somewhat unusual experience, it did make me wonder if I had done something wrong and if other translators would have acted differently in a case like this.
Without being the world's chemistry expert, I don't really see what you did wrong. Part of our job is to think intelligently about the text and report potential mistakes and inconsistencies to the client (in a tactful, non-know-it-all manner as you suggest). But then, as you say, it's really up to the client to then resolve the issue highlighted to them. I certainly don't see that it's the job of fellow translators to resolve mistakes in the source text by bickering it out between them.
I don't quite understand whether the other translator's complaint was that you didn't "fully" correct the formula, or that you altered it at all (that in their opinion you should have left the client's original incorrect version).
I would generally correct obvious mistakes (and higlight to the client). For example, in my field of IT, it's amazing how many people wrongly assume that "Kbps" stands for "kilo*bytes* per second" and I this is a correction I have applied in several translations to the point where I could almost do with a button on the keyboard to type the footnote automatically.
[Edited at 2011-02-11 14:28 GMT]
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