The sigmatoid
ethics comes from the Greek language, and its world reference is
moral habits (http://www.myetymology.com/ greek/ethos.html).
Talking about ethical codes for the professions of translator, and interpreter is talking about imposing moral habits to translators, and interpreters therefore.
How are
good moral habits for those classes of professionals determined? If they reflect culture, do the recommendations change from Country to Country?
The ethical codes for the two previously mentioned professions in Australia, United States of America, and Brazil seem to be imposed by an organ, and that means one-sided updates, no class discussions, no democratic voting, and so on.
The Australian, and the American codes mention around eight principles whilst the Brazilian ethical code mentions around twelve.
There are meaningful differences in the way clients are treated: in Brazil, one seeks the best outcome for the clients, but, in the United States or Australia, one seeks the best outcome for the authorities for law and order instead.
In a court session, the interpreter may feel tempted to protect their clients when those seem to be producing damage through their speech; say when they curse in front of the judge.
If the session is taking place in Australia or in the United States of America, and the own client is paying for the services, AUSIT (the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators) expects the interpreter to repeat what the clients said in the way they said.
In Brazil, SINTRA (Sindicato Nacional dos Tradutores) expects the interpreter to omit those tokens in the interpretational process instead.
SINTRA also expects interpreters, and translators to support each other in fights that affect the entire class, but AUSIT and ATA (American Translators’ Association) do not think that those professionals should be obliged to support each other there.
The most important principle is present at the SINTRA code, but does not appear in the ATA or AUSIT codes: the Special Justice Principle.
SINTRA proposes that people deal with their disputes through their staff/mediators, but ATA, and AUSIT do not do that.
This allowance means more protection: each time a translator or an interpreter is brought to common justice, their situation is not only dealt with by people outside of the métier, but is also recorded in public archives… .
Ethical codes are used as
books of the law for the exercise of the professions of translator and interpreter. All professionals from those areas agree that the professions are distinct. Even so, the titles of some of those codes point exclusively at the professional class translators (ATA, and SINTRA).
Australia