Interpreter Ethics Exercises
What are interpreter ethics? Why are they important?
DESCRIPTION
In general, ethics tell us what is right and wrong. Professional ethics tell us how to behave in our work. Almost all professions have some kind of code of ethics. For example, teachers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, hairstylists and farm labourers belong to professions that have codes of ethics. Interpreters have ethics too. They help interpreters behave professionally and ethically. These include: ACCURACY / CONFIDENTIALITY / IMPARTIALITY / ROLE BOUNDARIES / RESPECT / CULTURAL AWARENESS / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT / PROFESSIONALISM / ADVOCACY (if needed).
While training and acting as solidarity interpreters, we must ask ourselves the following questions, and discuss them in relation to the context of social movements and NGOs/CSOs in South Asia:
What are the consequences of the decisions we take (instantaneous decision-making)?
Are we acting consciously? Is there a conflict of interest and if so, how do we deal with it?
How are we constructing the points of view that are being portrayed? Are we influencing how this point of view is reflected?
Are our personal moral values getting in the way of our professional ethics of interpreting?
What about our organisation? Is there an institutional set up that is reflected in the way we interpret?
Do we have a professional code of ethics? Do we abide by a confidentiality agreement?
Do we interpret faithfully and accurately between the parties, irrespective of what they ask/say?
Do we abide by the rule of no omissions (if possible) nor additions (unless necessary for contextualising)?
Does all information remain strictly confidential?
Do we observe impartiality and neutrality: i.e. not get personally involved, not reveal our own bias?
Do we ensure that personal opinions or interests that may influence the conversation are not permitted?
Do we demonstrate respect for ALL speakers, and ensure our body language reflects this?
Do we ensure that we do not reproduce caste/gender/ethnic discrimination through our performance?
Are we simply communicating information or do we see also ourselves as mediators?
Possible Scenarios for Discussion:
Scenario 1:
The workshop about women’s rights has become tense. One of the trainers – who is a woman – starts offering ideas that you don’t agree with. “Women who wear short skirts are just asking for harassment,” she says. “Women ourselves need to remember the character of men, and not give them any reason to bother us.”
As an interpreter, you feel extremely uncomfortable translating such remarks which you disagree with. You are worried your audience will absorb this information presented authoritatively in a training. What do you do?
Suggested points:
role of interpreter is just to interpret
we should assume the listener is able to make up their own mind
you could express your discomfort with the leader of the workshop
create distance between the content and yourself with expressions like ‘the speaker says’.
Scenario 2:
The next speaker is presenting about international legal frameworks for rights of women. It is hard even for you as an interpreter to grasp. You can see that the listeners aren’t engaging as much with the material. What do you do?
Suggested points:
techniques to make it more understandable
just keep going – even if only one person is listening, that is enough to have to do the work.
Scenario 3:
After a long morning of interpreting, you are eating your lunch with a few of your friends. It is a welcome break, and your brain is tired. Suddenly, one of the organisers runs up to you. “Hey! Are you a Bengali interpreter? Come here really quick!”
Suggested points:
Before joining, ask questions about what is required precisely.
It is up to you whether you go or not. You can arrange for someone else to go. Breaks are essential.