| Страниц в теме: < [1 2] | Poll: Have you ever refused a project due to conflict of values/interests? Автор темы: ProZ.com Staff
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Christine Andersen 
Дания
Local time: 10:57
Член ProZ.com c 2003
датский => английский
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| It depends to some extent on the purpose of the text | Aug 12, 2013 |
The only topics I actually have turned down were astrology and 'alternative medicine'
I translate honest, scientific medicine, where serious efforts are made to establish whether it helps, ethical declarations are signed and adhered to, and the results are checked and peer reviewed.
I could not bring myself to translate about superstition sold to make money, and I do not want to risk my name and reputation on it.
There are other things I would not translat... See more The only topics I actually have turned down were astrology and 'alternative medicine'
I translate honest, scientific medicine, where serious efforts are made to establish whether it helps, ethical declarations are signed and adhered to, and the results are checked and peer reviewed.
I could not bring myself to translate about superstition sold to make money, and I do not want to risk my name and reputation on it.
There are other things I would not translate, but I have never been offered work in those fields.
As I have mentioned before, it does depend on the text and the purpose it will be used for. I would, for instance, translate a text for use as evidence in court to stop criminal activity, but not to assist the perpetrators of that activity.
I would translate information denouncing practices I disapprove of, but not material to assist in furthering those practices.
While I believe in freedom of speech and freedom of religion and belief, I also believe in a duty to take a stand and defend one's own beliefs, and from my safe position in the free-thinking world, that is the least I can do. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Великобритания
Local time: 09:57
Член ProZ.com c 2006
английский => польский
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ЛОКАЛИЗАТОР САЙТА | Interpreting project | Aug 12, 2013 |
I have refused a request for interpreting in a divorce proceeding as previously I worked as interpreter for the other spouse.
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| | | | Charlotte Farrell
Великобритания
Local time: 09:57
Член ProZ.com c 2013
немецкий => английский
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| I haven't but would | Aug 12, 2013 |
I would probably refuse any projects of a religious nature or about astrology or anything else that I actively do not believe in - I obviously wouldn't take a translation from a neo-Nazi group, for example. I'd also probably turn down jobs about/from countries with politics I'm staunchly against, such as Saudi Arabia or Israel.
| | | | | Lessons learned | Aug 14, 2013 |
I recently accepted a 'General Terms and Conditions of Sale' project and didn't scan it thoroughly enough before accepting it. It was my first project for an agency and only once I'd received the PO and started translating did I realise the end client was selling lab mice. I've been a vegan and animal activist for years and so didn't much enjoy the task. It didn't require any particular expert knowledge and didn't go into really horrific details, but the whole experience was upsetting to say the... See more I recently accepted a 'General Terms and Conditions of Sale' project and didn't scan it thoroughly enough before accepting it. It was my first project for an agency and only once I'd received the PO and started translating did I realise the end client was selling lab mice. I've been a vegan and animal activist for years and so didn't much enjoy the task. It didn't require any particular expert knowledge and didn't go into really horrific details, but the whole experience was upsetting to say the least. I didn't have the courage to refuse the project after having accepted the PO (not very professional), but once I'd completed it, I asked the agency not to send me any further translation requests from that particular client. I found a rescue centre for lab mice in America and they'll be getting a nice donation once I get paid! As for other fields, I haven't ever received anything I couldn't accept. I agree with a number of colleagues on here about religious texts... If Richard Dawkins were French I'd translate his books for free. ▲ Collapse
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| Conflict of interests | Aug 17, 2013 |
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
There's a big difference between 'conflict of interest' and values. The 'conflict of interest' part is intriguing. I'm trying to think of an example. Since we are sworn to confidentiality, I can't imagine such a case.
In the business world, I can imagine that a translator can become privy to corporate secrets, but unless the translator has stock in that company or a competitor, I don't see a problem.
Mostly, translators' vested interests are their clients. Again, no problem. If one my clients has confidential information against another of my clients, I would still translate the text and simply keep my mouth shut.
My clients are mostly international organizations, and it has happened more than once that one of them had a big issue with another organization that also work for and I have had to translate their complaints. No problem. I trust that I will be discreet when I accept the job, and that has always been the case.
I could sometimes not take a project from one agency if I'd previously been working on the same kind of projects for the same end client through a different agency, and a competition situation is likely to arise, forget if I my name ever pops up in both agencies' papers exchanged with the client.
I also feel bad about reviewing or correcting the work of people I know personally. I sometimes prefer not to see how my colleagues translate.
ariffo wrote:
While I'm quite certain I'd be able to set my personal opinion/bias aside if I were to accept something that conflicts with my beliefs, and do a professional job regardless, I still feel like I'd be helping promote/encourage something that I am strongly against.
Christine Andersen wrote:
It depends to some extent on the purpose of the text
It does, beginning from translation of illegal materials for law enforcement officers who investigate them. But this is the purpose of the translation rather than the text.
[Edited at 2013-08-17 17:50 GMT]
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