Ethics in Public Service Interpreting

Mary Phelan lectures in translation and public service interpreting at Dublin City University, Ireland, and is the chairperson of the Irish Translators’ and Interpreters’ Association. Her research relates to the historical provision of court interpreters in Ireland, current interpreter provision in various settings, and associated legislation.Mette Rudvin completed her PhD in Translation Studies in the UK in 1997 and has been teaching a variety of English and translation and interpreting related subjects at the University of Bologna since 1996; she also set up the first university training course for legal interpreters for minority languages in Italy. She has specialized in Community Interpreting/PSI, a field in which she has published widely, but her areas of research and publication also include interpreting/translation and philosophy, translation and children’s literature, ELF, language and game-theory, oral narrative, and Pakistan-studies.Hanne Skaaden teaches interpreting at Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway. Her research covers first-language attrition and the bilingual migrant, remote Interpreting and the process of professionalisation in PSI. She has extensive experience with interpreting in the Norwegian public sector.Patrick Stefan Kermit has a background in philosophy and theoretical ethics, and has worked in interpreter education for many years. His research encompasses several projects looking into interpreting in the context of the criminal justice system in Norway.

'This is a very timely book. It thoroughly explores, from various perspectives, the discretionary power of interpreters working in the public sector. It explains the difference between personal and professional principles, gives the foundation of professional ethics in the literature on moral philosophy, and explores the relation between philosophical issues and the practice of interpreting. This book is a must-read for everyone interested in the professionalization of public service interpreters.'Cecilia Wadensjö, Stockholm University, Sweden'Interpreters working in public institutions are often confronted by ethical challenges, to which they must respond adequately - and instantly! This study takes readers into the deeper foundations of ethical practice in interpreting, and makes a landmark contribution through acute philosophical analysis, relevant case studies, and well-argued professional perspectives.'Uldis Ozolins, Western Sydney University, Australia

• IntroductionPart I: Situating Interpreting Ethics in Moral Philosophy1.1 Introduction: Sector-specific interpreting. Interpreter agency and ethical challenges1.2 Contextualising PSI ethics: history, philosophy and professional practice1.3 Ethics in Philosophy1.4 Loyalty, Honesty and Truth-Telling. The foundation of the accuracy ethic?1.5 The Philosophy of Ethics: a brief look at the development of some central tenets1.6 The Ethics of translation – ethics in Translation Studies1.7 Summing Up: The PSI–Moral Philosophy ethical interfaceConcluding remarks: The existential anguish of choice and decision-makingReferencesPart II: Codes of Ethics2.1 Historical Examples of Interpreter Ethics2.2 Regulation of Professions2.3 Association codes of ethics2.4 Advocacy2.5 Company codes of ethics for interpreters2.6 The Norwegian example2.7 Intercultural Mediators2.8 Conclusion2.9 Ethics in Real Life CasesConclusionReferencesPart III: Ethics and Profession3.1 Why do we need professional ethics?3.2 What is a profession?3.3 How extensive a domain for the interpreter’s exercise of discretion?3.4 Interpreting as interaction3.5 Ethics, trust and the organisational aspect of professionsConclusion: Ethics, education and professional integrityReferencesIndex