| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Would you refuse to work on a project for moral or ethical reasons? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Ty Kendall wrote:
a) I've never encountered a "porn translation industry".
b) Why does such work exist? Surely the dialogue isn't the main..."focus" in the porn industry. Does anyone really care what they are saying enough to pay for its translation?
It is incredibly rare, but a few months ago, there was a translation job on ProZ.com for the translation of porn video descriptions from English into several languages. I didn't apply for it, but I followed up on it the other day, and it seems like the colleague who was awarded the project did a very thorough job, as far as I can judge.
I think that most translations in this business are exactly that kind of work, making porn search engine-friendly, not the movie dialogues.
| | | | | It depends a little on the purpose | Jan 15, 2014 |
For purely egoistic reasons, I would turn down anything that could be construed as illegal or aiding and abetting others in illegal actions or get me into trouble.
As I write that, I feel enormously humble and grateful to fate that I can say that.
I hope I would have joined the Resistance and offered my services if I had lived for instance during World War II, but in the current situation in northern Europe, I don't regard civil disobedience as effective or necessary.
... See more For purely egoistic reasons, I would turn down anything that could be construed as illegal or aiding and abetting others in illegal actions or get me into trouble.
As I write that, I feel enormously humble and grateful to fate that I can say that.
I hope I would have joined the Resistance and offered my services if I had lived for instance during World War II, but in the current situation in northern Europe, I don't regard civil disobedience as effective or necessary.
I might not baulk at translating the same texts if I were certain they were to be used as court evidence or in some other way to prevent further crime.
I regard some kinds of 'alternative medicine' as fraud and say they are beyond my scope or that I do not know enough about them, adding under my breath that I do not wish to know either...
While I earnestly try to learn more about others because I believe they are actually beneficial when used properly.
I have occasionally turned down jobs on ethical grounds, and would do so again if I felt uncomfortable about them, for many of the reasons given by others. I usually have plenty of work, so it is a comparatively easy decision for me.
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I like Texte Style's idea of actively looking for ethical clients - I must bear that in mind. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Reed James
Chile
Local time: 23:39
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
| Anything that contains strong negative comments about my country or its presidents | Jan 15, 2014 |
Which means I would definitely turn down a speech by the late Hugo Chávez.
| | | | | YES, definitely! | Jan 15, 2014 |
I have refused work several times in the past for that reason. One project was for a major agricultural company, which is against my animal rights and vegan principles. I have also refused to work on projects related to the adult entertainment industry.
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Dave Bindon 
Greece
Local time: 06:39
Greek to English
In memoriam | As others have said... | Jan 15, 2014 |
...it would depend on the purpose of the translation. I spent half of Christmas Day translating a text about torture and didn't bat an eyelid because I knew that my translation would be used for humanitarian reasons. Translating a text about how to torture someone is something I would almost certainly refuse to do.
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 23:39
English to Spanish
+ ...
| On refusing a translation job on moral/ethical grounds | Jan 15, 2014 |
I agree with the respondents about refusing to translate material that I might find offensive.
Now, define offensive. Not so easy, huh?
For example, I recently saw a TV documentary on a certain tribe that practiced cannibalism. To them, it was a matter of not wasting resources (flesh = protein). So, they couldn't understand why we would find cannibalism offensive or disgusting.
Still think the definition of “offensive” is pretty easy?
... See more I agree with the respondents about refusing to translate material that I might find offensive.
Now, define offensive. Not so easy, huh?
For example, I recently saw a TV documentary on a certain tribe that practiced cannibalism. To them, it was a matter of not wasting resources (flesh = protein). So, they couldn't understand why we would find cannibalism offensive or disgusting.
Still think the definition of “offensive” is pretty easy?
First and foremost, as Jody Byrne stated in her book, translation is an act of communication. Let me expand on that with a definition of my own:
Translation is an authoring act of communication.
You write, you are the author, whether it's a book, a translation, a poem to your girlfriend or to your dog.
Now, how do court interpreters handle difficult topics on the job? What if they are called to interpret what the indicted murderer or rapist wants to say? What if the accused uses profane, demeaning, debasing, insulting, racial, mysoginistic, or hateful language? A professional interprets all those things as she puts aside her preconceived notions and personal values.
Same with translation. I don't have to agree to what an author says, I'm getting paid to communicate. ▲ Collapse
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I also volunteer my time and energy to projects that I believe in for moral or ethical reasons.
| | | | | To add to what I said in my previous post: | Jan 15, 2014 |
A couple more reasons why I would translate a hideous text, rather than leaving it untranslated:
"I do not agree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it."
And
"Know your enemy."
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I would not translate material for charlatans and con-men. This would include misinformation by politicians, etc.
Steve K.
| | | | Anne Bohy
France
Local time: 05:39
English to French
Once I refused to translate a document about disclosure of personal information, on the ground that what they intended to do would be unlawful in the European Union, because of Privacy laws.
I had warned them before, about similar texts, without any effect.
Once I refused to translate, they removed the litigious text, and later produced an acceptable version.
| | | | Andrea Riffo
Chile
Local time: 23:39
English to Spanish
+ ...
My immediate answer to this and similar questions has always been "Yes; I'm a person, not a machine". However, I found this Esther Allen interview in Words Without Borders today and it got me wondering if maybe the issue isn't as black and white as I previously thought. The part I'm talking about specifically is:
"Under what circumstances, if any, would you agree to translate a work whose ideological or ethical content was repugnant to you?
(...)
Som... See more My immediate answer to this and similar questions has always been "Yes; I'm a person, not a machine". However, I found this Esther Allen interview in Words Without Borders today and it got me wondering if maybe the issue isn't as black and white as I previously thought. The part I'm talking about specifically is:
"Under what circumstances, if any, would you agree to translate a work whose ideological or ethical content was repugnant to you?
(...)
Sometimes the most ideologically repugnant text can be crucially in need of translation. I admire Ralph Manheim for having translated Mein Kampf. This was a book that was going to circulate in English, no matter what. We're better off with a solid, scholarly translation of it that students of history and others can rely on, rather than having it circulate underground in amateur translations done for the worst imaginable reasons."
(Source: http://wordswithoutborders.org/dispatches/article/translator-relay-esther-allen)
Thought I'd leave it here in case you're interested.
Best!
[Edited at 2014-07-24 22:08 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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I haven't done this very often but I did refuse a project (one that involved both translation and voicing) for a nationalistic/religious film that I felt gravely misrepresented the roles of religion and ethnic minorities in Turkey. I didn't want my name associated with it.
I searched out this issue at this late date because I was sorely tempted to do the same for a music method book job I just received. The book launches right into chauvinistic rhetoric about how other nations try a... See more I haven't done this very often but I did refuse a project (one that involved both translation and voicing) for a nationalistic/religious film that I felt gravely misrepresented the roles of religion and ethnic minorities in Turkey. I didn't want my name associated with it.
I searched out this issue at this late date because I was sorely tempted to do the same for a music method book job I just received. The book launches right into chauvinistic rhetoric about how other nations try and claim a particular group of musical instruments but are just being dishonest and anyway the Turks invented them all... It's tired rhetoric that most academics have long since left behind. But the writing and presentation are so abysmally bad that nobody will take it seriously. In fact, the reaction will probably be so negative that the writer will almost certainly be panned. Who wouldn't want to facilitate that?
I am however doing it on the condition that my name not appear anywhere on the finished product. ▲ Collapse
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