| Pages in topic: [1 2 3 4] > | Do you translate a text if you are against its content? Thread poster: Carmen Grabs
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Carmen Grabs
Germany
Local time: 17:29
Member (2012)
English to German
+ ...
Hello everybody,
sometimes I come across jobs where I don't agree with the content. I want to keep a clear conscience but feel that I am walking a tightrope walk. Texts about medical results / animal testing etc. do not reflect my attitude, but I also feel that as a translator I am only an instrument.
How do you go about this? Do you only translate texts you feel they don't harm your belief/opinion/conviction? Or do you do "everything"?
Carmen
[Edit... See more Hello everybody,
sometimes I come across jobs where I don't agree with the content. I want to keep a clear conscience but feel that I am walking a tightrope walk. Texts about medical results / animal testing etc. do not reflect my attitude, but I also feel that as a translator I am only an instrument.
How do you go about this? Do you only translate texts you feel they don't harm your belief/opinion/conviction? Or do you do "everything"?
Carmen
[Edited at 2012-09-06 10:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:29
Member (2008)
Italian to English
I recently refused a job from one of my best clients because it was a market research questionnaire that asked respondents to answer a series of questions about what brand of cigarettes they smoke, what they think of other brands, etc.
Luckily there were "no hard feelings" about this between me and my client.
I've also turned down a very lucrative technical translation job describing the operation of air-launched missiles. I don't work on things designed for killing an... See more I recently refused a job from one of my best clients because it was a market research questionnaire that asked respondents to answer a series of questions about what brand of cigarettes they smoke, what they think of other brands, etc.
Luckily there were "no hard feelings" about this between me and my client.
I've also turned down a very lucrative technical translation job describing the operation of air-launched missiles. I don't work on things designed for killing and destroying.
But I'm always careful about apostrophes .... http://www.apostrophe.org.uk
[Edited at 2012-09-06 09:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | martplume
Local time: 18:29
English to Latvian
+ ...
| Yeah it may depend | Sep 6, 2012 |
This is surely a very debatable subject.
If I slightly disagree with the subject matter, I might sometimes still do it. Luckily I never stumbled across a client who would give me some text that I would strongly disagree with. And I have worked almost 10 years as a translator.
But then, I translate many technical manuals, which are used for machines and tractors that make the air more polluted. As I stated, I do slightly disagree with that but I still do it.
Mart... See more This is surely a very debatable subject.
If I slightly disagree with the subject matter, I might sometimes still do it. Luckily I never stumbled across a client who would give me some text that I would strongly disagree with. And I have worked almost 10 years as a translator.
But then, I translate many technical manuals, which are used for machines and tractors that make the air more polluted. As I stated, I do slightly disagree with that but I still do it.
Martin ▲ Collapse
| | | | Hepburn 
France
Local time: 17:29
English to French
+ ...
| Not a debate for me | Sep 6, 2012 |
"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 tra... See more "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 ▲ Collapse
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:29
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Extermination | Sep 6, 2012 |
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]
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Shortly after the attack in Norway, I was asked to translate part of Breivik's manifesto. I couldn't really figure out the intentions of my client - he claimed he didn't agree with Breivik's ideas but his explanations about what were his intentions just didn't satisfy me. He claimed to be an artist and his ideas about why he wanted the translation (as part of a new project) was just too vague to make sense to me. I considered that this manifesto was nothing I wanted to spread any further ... See more Shortly after the attack in Norway, I was asked to translate part of Breivik's manifesto. I couldn't really figure out the intentions of my client - he claimed he didn't agree with Breivik's ideas but his explanations about what were his intentions just didn't satisfy me. He claimed to be an artist and his ideas about why he wanted the translation (as part of a new project) was just too vague to make sense to me. I considered that this manifesto was nothing I wanted to spread any further by taking part in its translation.
Maybe if someone could convince me that the translation was useful as insight into a sick mind and could prevent something like these killings from happening in the future, I might have reacted differently.
If the hypothetical specifications of the death camps were to be translated in the context of a trial to sanction the responsibles I would feel honoured to take part in it. So it is not a question of what, but of why and for who.
We are all part of the world around us. Even if I doubt to be able to make a change by rejecting a job I might as well try. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 17:29
Spanish to English
+ ...
It would depend on how disgusted/repelled I was by the text content, but in general I see myself as a cipher, a mere conduit, and try to be circumspect, although some things might stick in your craw. For example, this morning I was disappointed to find rabbits in a trial I was describing being gavaged with inoculum, but I'm not going to rush out and trash the laboratory or dig up anybody's dead relatives (a reference to Animal Liberation terrorists in UK).
To quote Woody Allen (or S... See more It would depend on how disgusted/repelled I was by the text content, but in general I see myself as a cipher, a mere conduit, and try to be circumspect, although some things might stick in your craw. For example, this morning I was disappointed to find rabbits in a trial I was describing being gavaged with inoculum, but I'm not going to rush out and trash the laboratory or dig up anybody's dead relatives (a reference to Animal Liberation terrorists in UK).
To quote Woody Allen (or Steve Miller): "Take the money and run!"... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:29
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| That would be OK | Sep 6, 2012 |
Anna Sarah Krämer Fazendeiro wrote:
Shortly after the attack in Norway, I was asked to translate part of Breivik's manifesto.
I would only be happy to translate that if it was for use as evidence in the court.
[Edited at 2012-09-06 10:55 GMT]
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Carmen Grabs
Germany
Local time: 17:29
Member (2012)
English to German
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Claudette, when I read what you say I agree. But then again, if I had a shop and people would ask me to sell, let's say, meat (I am a vegetarian), would I have to do it just because I have a shop? Or do I say: By selling meat, I support the meat industry.
And by translating texts about animal testing, I do support animal testing.
Ok, one can say: If you don't do it, someone else will. But at least I have a clean conscience.
The reasons why I came up with ... See more Claudette, when I read what you say I agree. But then again, if I had a shop and people would ask me to sell, let's say, meat (I am a vegetarian), would I have to do it just because I have a shop? Or do I say: By selling meat, I support the meat industry.
And by translating texts about animal testing, I do support animal testing.
Ok, one can say: If you don't do it, someone else will. But at least I have a clean conscience.
The reasons why I came up with this topic is that I am doing some work on drug name research. And with this I support the drug industry with everything that comes with it. Am not feeling too happy about it, but still need the job. That is my dilemma.
Tom: Thank's for the link ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:29
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Anti-vivisection | Sep 6, 2012 |
neilmac wrote:
It would depend on how disgusted/repelled I was by the text content, but in general I see myself as a cipher, a mere conduit, and try to be circumspect, although some things might stick in your craw. For example, this morning I was disappointed to find rabbits in a trial I was describing being gavaged with inoculum, but I'm not going to rush out and trash the laboratory or dig up anybody's dead relatives (a reference to Animal Liberation terrorists in UK).
To quote Woody Allen (or Steve Miller): "Take the money and run!"...
You don't have to be an Animal Liberation terrorist to be against vivisection. I wouldn't translate any "Life Sciences" documents involving vivisection- unless it was to be done as support for anti-vivisection groups.
What a surprise! This thread is making me discover that I actually believe in things and have principles ! So I'm not "just obeying orders" (Adolf Eichmann).
Thanks for making me feel better about myself
[Edited at 2012-09-06 10:55 GMT]
| | | | Areo (X)
German to English
| What's so difficult here? | Sep 6, 2012 |
I never understood these threads.
Your job is to translate stuff. If you really don't want to translate something, don't.
It's that easy.
What usually comes out on these threads, though, is a lot of self-importance and self-righteousness and really, really, important translators.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 17:29
Spanish to English
+ ...
Anna Sarah Krämer Fazendeiro wrote:
Shortly after the attack in Norway, I was asked to translate part of Breivik's manifesto. I couldn't really figure out the intentions of my client - he claimed he didn't agree with Breivik's ideas but his explanations about what were his intentions just didn't satisfy me. He claimed to be an artist and his ideas about why he wanted the translation (as part of a new project) was just too vague to make sense to me. I considered that this manifesto was nothing I wanted to spread any further by taking part in its translation.
I think you made a mistake. The client will simply find another less principled translator, to get the job discreetly. In the same situation, I'd probably have done the translation and maybe told someone in authority about it, just in case.
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:29
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| In which case | Sep 6, 2012 |
neilmac wrote:
.... I'd probably have done the translation and maybe told someone in authority about it, just in case.
In which case you might find that you had become a person of interest to the police (the crime is called "aiding and abetting" in the UK)
[Edited at 2012-09-06 10:57 GMT]
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 17:29
Spanish to English
+ ...
| See hyperbole definition | Sep 6, 2012 |
[quote]Tom in London wrote:
neilmac wrote:
It would depend on how disgusted/repelled I was by the text content, but in general I see myself as a cipher, a mere conduit, and try to be circumspect, although some things might stick in your craw. For example, this morning I was disappointed to find rabbits in a trial I was describing being gavaged with inoculum, but I'm not going to rush out and trash the laboratory or dig up anybody's dead relatives (a reference to Animal Liberation terrorists in UK).
To quote Woody Allen (or Steve Miller): "Take the money and run!"...
@Tom: Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally.
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:29
Member (2008)
Italian to English
[quote]neilmac wrote:
Tom in London wrote: neilmac wrote:
It would depend on how disgusted/repelled I was by the text content, but in general I see myself as a cipher, a mere conduit, and try to be circumspect, although some things might stick in your craw. For example, this morning I was disappointed to find rabbits in a trial I was describing being gavaged with inoculum, but I'm not going to rush out and trash the laboratory or dig up anybody's dead relatives (a reference to Animal Liberation terrorists in UK).
To quote Woody Allen (or Steve Miller): "Take the money and run!"... @Tom: Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally.
So maybe you should have avoided using it.
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