ATA - American Translators Association ATA Code of Ethics Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An ATA-certified translator is asked by a prospective client to translate a highly specialized patent for a new pharmaceutical compound. The translator's expertise is in legal contracts, and they have no experience with pharmaceutical or chemical texts. According to the ATA Code of Ethics, what is the most appropriate course of action?
- Accept the project and use online dictionaries and glossaries to handle the specialized terminology.
- Accept the project but subcontract the specialized sections to a colleague with pharmaceutical expertise without informing the client.
- Decline the assignment, explaining that it falls outside their area of professional competence. (Correct answer)
- Accept the project at a discounted rate to compensate for their lack of specialized knowledge.
Correct answer: Decline the assignment, explaining that it falls outside their area of professional competence.
The ATA Code of Ethics requires members to represent their qualifications honestly and work within their capabilities. Accepting an assignment in a field where one lacks expertise would be a violation of this principle. The most ethical action is to decline the project to ensure the client receives a competent and accurate translation from a qualified professional.
Question 2: A translator is working on a sensitive financial report for a publicly traded company that is about to announce its quarterly earnings. Before the announcement, the translator discusses specific, non-public figures from the report with a colleague who is also an ATA member to get advice on a formatting issue. Which tenet of the ATA Code of Ethics has been violated?
- Acting collegially by sharing knowledge.
- Conveying meaning faithfully and accurately.
- Holding confidential information in confidence. (Correct answer)
- Abiding by the terms of business transactions.
Correct answer: Holding confidential information in confidence.
The ATA Code of Ethics strictly requires members to "hold in confidence any privileged and/or confidential information entrusted to us in the course of our work." Disclosing specific, non-public financial figures, even to a colleague for advice, is a direct breach of this confidentiality principle. While consulting colleagues is encouraged, it must be done without revealing confidential details.
Question 3: Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the principle of impartiality as defined in the ATA Code of Ethics?
- A translator improving a poorly written source text by omitting redundant sentences to make it clearer for the target audience.
- A translator adding a footnote to explain a cultural concept that has no direct equivalent in the target language.
- A translator softening profane language in a source document because they believe it is inappropriate for the intended target audience.
- A translator rendering a text that contains opinions they personally disagree with, ensuring the author's original message and tone are conveyed without alteration. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A translator rendering a text that contains opinions they personally disagree with, ensuring the author's original message and tone are conveyed without alteration.
Impartiality requires the translator to adopt a mantle of neutrality, conveying the author's message as intended without adding, omitting, or altering the content based on personal beliefs or opinions. Translating a text faithfully despite personal disagreement with its content is a core demonstration of impartiality. The other options involve the translator making subjective alterations to the source text's content or impact.
Question 4: According to the ATA Code of Ethics, a member's commitment to continuing education is intended to:
- Fulfill a mandatory requirement for renewing ATA membership each year.
- Justify charging higher rates than non-certified translators.
- Enhance their capabilities and keep abreast of changes in language, culture, and technology. (Correct answer)
- Provide a competitive advantage in marketing materials.
Correct answer: Enhance their capabilities and keep abreast of changes in language, culture, and technology.
The ATA Code of Ethics states that members should "enhance those capabilities at every opportunity by continuing education in language, subject field, and professional practice." This principle emphasizes that ongoing learning is crucial for maintaining and improving the skills necessary to provide high-quality work in a constantly evolving field.
Question 5: A freelance translator, working through an agency, completes a project for one of the agency's major clients. The end client is so impressed with the work that they contact the translator directly and offer them regular, ongoing work, bypassing the agency. According to the commentary on the ATA Code of Ethics, what is the translator's ethical obligation?
- Accept the offer, as the end client initiated the contact.
- Report the agency to the ATA for failing to secure an exclusive contract.
- Politely decline the direct offer, as it undermines the business relationship with the agency.
- Accept the offer but agree to pay the agency a one-time finder's fee. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Accept the offer but agree to pay the agency a one-time finder's fee.
The commentary on the ATA Code of Ethics and Professional Practice provides examples of best business practices. It explicitly states that it is inappropriate for an independent contractor to solicit or accept business directly from a contact made through a translation company, even if a non-competition clause was not signed. This upholds the integrity of business relationships.
Question 6: When an ATA member lists their credentials, such as 'ATA-Certified Translator,' on their website or resume, what does the principle of 'honest representation' require?
- Listing only the highest credential earned to avoid confusion.
- Specifying the language pair and direction of the certification (e.g., 'Spanish to English'). (Correct answer)
- Using the general term 'ATA Member' to encompass all qualifications.
- Including the year the certification was first achieved.
Correct answer: Specifying the language pair and direction of the certification (e.g., 'Spanish to English').
The principle of honestly representing qualifications requires accuracy and specificity. The commentary on the ATA Code of Ethics gives the explicit example that "ATA certification should always specify the language pair and direction of the certification." This prevents misrepresentation and clearly communicates the translator's specific, verified skills to potential clients.
