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Professional Reference Document

Translator's/Interpreter's Code of Ethics

A structured set of ethical principles and professional conduct standards to guide translators and interpreters in carrying out their work with integrity, accuracy, transparency and responsibility.

1

Ethical Principle

Professional Conduct

  • ·Members maintain their integrity and independence at all times.
  • ·Members undertake appropriate preparations for all assignments.
  • ·Members complete assignments they have accepted, unless they are unable to do so for ethical reasons.
  • ·Members adhere to appointment times and deadlines, or advise clients promptly of any hindrance.
2

Ethical Principle

Confidentiality

  • ·Members are bound by strict rules of confidentiality, as are the parties they work with in professional or business fields.
  • ·Where teamwork is required, the ethical obligation for confidentiality extends to all members of the team and/or agency.
  • ·Members do not seek to take advantage of information acquired during or as a result of their work.
  • ·Disclosure of information may be permissible with clients’ agreement or when disclosure is mandated by law.
3

Ethical Principle

Impartiality

  • ·Professional detachment is required for interpreting and translation assignments in all situations.
  • ·Where impartiality may be difficult to maintain because of personal beliefs or other circumstances, members do not accept assignments, or they offer to withdraw from the assignment.
  • ·Members are not responsible for what clients say or write.
  • ·Members do not voice or write an opinion, solicited or unsolicited, on any matter or person during an assignment.
  • ·Members disclose all conflicts of interest, and avoid situations that may lead to perceived conflict of interest.
4

Ethical Principle

Competence

  • ·The acceptance of an interpreting or translation assignment is an implicit declaration of an interpreter's or translator's competence to carry out that assignment.
  • ·Members are familiar with the varied contexts, institutional structures, terminology and genre of the areas in which they accept work.
  • ·Members clearly state their qualifications in particular languages or language directions if requested by the client.
  • ·If it becomes apparent in the course of an assignment that expertise beyond their competence is required, members inform the client(s) immediately and work to resolve the situation, either withdrawing from the assignment or following another acceptable strategy.
5

Ethical Principle

Accuracy

  • ·Members provide accurate and appropriate renditions of the source utterance or text in the target language.
  • ·For this purpose, accuracy is defined as optimal and complete, without distortion or omission, while preserving the content and intent of the source message or text.
  • ·Members are able to provide an accurate and complete rendition of the source message using the skills and understanding they have acquired through their training and education.
  • ·Members do not alter, add to, or omit anything from the content and intent of the source message.
  • ·Members acknowledge and promptly rectify any interpreting or translation mistakes, and ask for repetition, rephrasing or explanation if anything is unclear.
6

Ethical Principle

Professional Relationship

  • ·Members maintain the same professional standards when working, whether as employees, freelancers, agency contractors, supervisors or employers of other members, with individual clients or through agencies.
  • ·Members deal with clients and agencies honestly and transparently.
  • ·Members request briefing and access to reference material and background information before their work commences.
  • ·In interpreting assignments, members endeavour to secure a conducive physical environment that enables optimal message transfer in the given context, including appropriate devices, confidentiality arrangements, safety measures, seating and reasonable breaks.
7

Ethical Principle

Professional Development

  • ·Members enhance their skills and knowledge through continuing education and professional development throughout their professional career.
  • ·Members maintain proficiency in the languages and familiarity with the cultures for which they offer professional interpreting and translation services.
  • ·Members support and encourage professional development within the profession and among their colleagues.
  • ·Members endeavour to keep themselves informed about new trends, developments and research findings in the field to improve their competence and practice.
8

Ethical Principle

Professional Solidarity

  • ·Members support and further the interests of the profession and their colleagues and offer each other assistance.
  • ·Members resolve any disputes with their interpreting and translating colleagues in a cooperative, constructive and professional manner.
  • ·Members refer any unresolved disputes with other members to the MTA Board. The conclusive direction of the Board is binding on members, with the provision of appeal or review in the interests of natural justice.

Endorsed at MTA Council Meeting 23 April 2026

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