Japan Translation Association

code_of_ethics_for_translators.html

Japan Translation Association, with the expectation that professional translators shall be an occupation of value to society, has determined the following standards of ethics and conduct for professional translators.

1. General Rules

(1) Professional translators shall abide by common social ethics and observe all laws and ordinances.
(2) Professional translators shall preserve their quality of work so that the translation occupation is recognized as a professional occupation.
(3) Prohibition of misusing information
Professional translators shall not use information obtained while performing translation services for personal gain.


2. Relationship with Clients
(1) Confidentiality
Professional translators shall not, against the will of clients, disclose information obtained while translating.
(2) Duty of care as a profession
When performing occupational duties, professional translators shall take care as is required in a professional occupation.
(3) Conflict of Interests
Professional translators shall not conduct activities that interfere with the interests of clients.
(4) Honesty
Professional translators shall always be honest with their clients and shall not conceal from clients’ information that may be useful for clients.
Professional translators shall be proactive in offering information and other material that may be useful to clients.
(5) Accountability
Professional translators shall provide thorough explanations when asked to do so by clients.

3. Services Offered
(1) High level of service Professional translators shall always provide a high level of translation services.
(2) Guarantee
Professional translators shall be clear as to whether the translation they provided is completely accurate (i.e. literal translation) or idiomatic in order to guarantee the quality of translation work.
(3) Services performed by translators
Professional translators shall personally perform translation services. Professional translators shall not transfer work received to other parties unless consent has been obtained from the client.
(4) Supervision responsibility
Profession translators, with the consent of clients, may subcontract translation work to other translators, but shall take responsibility for that translation work as if they performed it themselves.
(5) Responsibility to not agree to work beyond one’s ability
Professional translators shall not agree to perform translation work that is beyond their own translation abilities.
(6) Disclosing terms and conditions for fees and content of translation services
Professional translators shall, before agreeing to perform translation services, clearly disclose fees, content, and conditions for translation work to clients.

4. Relations with other translators
(1) Integrity
Professional translators shall always be honest in their work and shall never resort to dishonest methods when performing translation services.
(2) Mutual assistance and cooperation
Professional translators shall be willing to engage in mutual assistance and cooperation with other professional translators.
(3) Criticizing other translators
Professional translators shall not criticize other professional translators in a way that is slanderous.
(4) Establishment of professional standards
Professional translators shall mutually respect and work in cooperation with other professional translators in order to increase society’s estimation of the translation service industry.

5. Improving Standards
(1) Self-improvement
Professional translators should constantly, in order to improve translation productivity and quality, seek self-improvement in their language abilities, expertise in their area of specialty, and information technology tools operation which are necessary and helpful for translation and translation management.
(2) Reviewing and revising
Professional translators shall accept reviews and revisions of their translation work by others as helpful second opinions and be open to such advice.