Poll: When I disagree with a source text's message, I'm conscious this might affect my translation. Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When I disagree with a source text's message, I'm conscious this might affect my translation.".
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I am a professional translator. First of all, I never accept a job from a new client without first looking it over. I don't remember how many times I've turned work down, but it has happened. As for work sent by my regular clients, I've been working with them for so long that the problem doesn't arise.
| | | | Lieven Malaise 
België
Local time: 23:49
Member (2020)
uit Frans in Nederlands
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I wouldn't know, because as a business translator I don't think I have ever translated controversial strong or conflicting opinions.
But I like to think that I would be professional enough to convey the meaning of the source text, whatever* it might be.
* I would obviously refuse to translate everything racist, mysoginistic, homophobic and what not that couldn't be put in a historical or fictional context.
| | | | | beliefs and conscience | Dec 16, 2025 |
You either do it or you don't. If you feel it goes against your beliefs and conscience, just don't do it
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| It depends what the text is | Dec 16, 2025 |
Many years ago, I translated some speeches for a trade union leader, a woman with strong beliefs. Basically, I respected her, but I did not agree with everything she said and campaigned for.
I belive in freedom of speech, and made every effort to translate loyally what she said in the way she meant it. She had weighed every word in the source text, and I tried to make it sound just as strong and convincing in English.
I have turned down texts about ´alternative´ medicine an... See more Many years ago, I translated some speeches for a trade union leader, a woman with strong beliefs. Basically, I respected her, but I did not agree with everything she said and campaigned for.
I belive in freedom of speech, and made every effort to translate loyally what she said in the way she meant it. She had weighed every word in the source text, and I tried to make it sound just as strong and convincing in English.
I have turned down texts about ´alternative´ medicine and treatments, because I knew I would not translate them loyally - I did not want to have anything to do with them.
But I would happily have translated texts explaining that they were fraud for a court case! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Luis M. Sosa
Ecuador
Local time: 16:49
uit Engels in Spaans
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| I agree with Ian | Dec 16, 2025 |
A few years ago, I abandoned one of my specialty fields because I realized its content was geared toward affecting people's psychology, eventually turning them into addicts. Additionally, I noticed that the project managers were overly pushy and tended to disrupt my work with unnecessary emails while I was working on their assignments.
| | | | | If it affects your translation, don't do it! | Dec 17, 2025 |
Years ago, a KudoZ question was posted in GER-ENG. It was just a 5- or 6-word caption under a photo depicting some elephant tusks. There was no further (con)text.
I was quite surprised by the reactions of some of the respondents, especially by one who stated that such questions shouldn’t even be allowed.
In this instance it was probably because the objector thought the Q was referring to elephants being killed for ivory and had strong feelings.
There’s... See more Years ago, a KudoZ question was posted in GER-ENG. It was just a 5- or 6-word caption under a photo depicting some elephant tusks. There was no further (con)text.
I was quite surprised by the reactions of some of the respondents, especially by one who stated that such questions shouldn’t even be allowed.
In this instance it was probably because the objector thought the Q was referring to elephants being killed for ivory and had strong feelings.
There’s nothing wrong with refusing to take on jobs for whatever reason, but claiming such Qs should be hidden from everyone else’s view is a bit OTT.
IMO, a translator’s job (much like a journalist’s) is to report accurately and without prejudice or bias. Of course, refusing to do a certain translation for whatever personal reason is always a perfectly legitimate option. But demanding the same of others?
An ardent ManU fan might refuse to translate sth. praising Liverpool, or vice versa. Others might just do the job.
We’re all different! Und gut so! But be tolerant!
[Edited at 2025-12-17 05:51 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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