Code of Ethics

 

ABOUT SFT

Founded in 1947, the Société française des traducteurs (SFT) is a professional association that defends the interests of translators and interpreters and promotes the translation profession in France. The SFT is also a founding member of the International Federation of Translators (FIT), a non-governmental organization which maintains official relations with UNESCO. This consultative partnership led UNESCO’s General Conference to adopt the Nairobi Recommendation in November 1976, which calls for translators to be equated with authors, and for their names to appear prominently on all published copies of their translations.

With over 1,600 members, the SFT represents the many sectors that make up the professional translation landscape in France: salaried employees, freelancers, legal experts, conference interpreters, technical and literary translators… The SFT scrupulously examines each application for membership, to ensure that the applicant meets the necessary conditions, and in particular that he or she practises his or her profession in accordance with the legislation of the country in which he or she officiates.

The SFT is an essential interface between translators, whatever their status, users of translations and public authorities. In addition to its activities at national level, the union is also present at regional level through its numerous delegations. Its members benefit from advantages such as training courses at reduced rates.

 

ABOUT THE CODE

Each member of the SFT undertakes to comply with the terms of this code of conduct in the course of his or her professional activity. Following lengthy reflection and thanks to the collaboration of many SFT members, the final version of the Code of Ethics was published in 2009. This code sets out the principles and best practices for practising the professions as clients, a guarantee of seriousness, competence, honesty and morality in their dealings.

The SFT Code of Ethics is also available in several languages.

Editorial: SFT members. Design: Graham MacLachlan and mademoiselle e.

This document was produced by the SFT Communications Department.

© 2017 Société française des traducteurs

By joining the Société française des traducteurs (SFT), translators undertake to respect the principles, duties and professional practices set out in this code, regardless of the status under which they work. These principles, duties and professional practices must guide the translator’s behaviour in all circumstances.

 

1. General principles

Probity and integrity
Translators shall carry out their work with probity and integrity, which is the basis of the client’s trust.
Translators undertake not to accept any assignment that would require them to compromise their dignity or that of the profession.

Loyalty
The translator undertakes to work according to the rules of the art, faithfully reproducing the message of the document entrusted to him.

Professional secrecy
Translators are bound by professional secrecy, subject to the strict requirements of their own defence and in cases where the declaration or reassessment is provided for or authorised by law or with the explicit agreement of the client. Professional secrecy applies to all information and documents sent to him/her.

2. Compliance with legislation

The translator undertakes to comply with the legislation of the State in which he or she is required to practise his or her profession. In particular, he or she shall comply with the social security and tax regulations of the State in which he or she is established.

3. Respect for clients

In their professional relations, translators shall respect the trust placed in them by the client by refraining in particular from accepting, carrying out or having carried out work the quality of which they cannot guarantee, or from entrusting all or part of the work to third parties without having informed the client and obtained their agreement.
Translators shall refrain from any form of advertising likely to mislead and, in particular, from claiming titles, diplomas or skills that they do not possess.
The Translator shall always ensure that the conditions are in place to enable him to produce quality work. They undertake to work according to the rules of the trade, i.e. :
Translate only into their mother tongue or a cultivated language, handled with precision and ease;
Have the knowledge and skills required in the specialist field of the assignment;
Obtain the information required for a perfect understanding and reproduction of the documents to be translated;
Maintain and develop their knowledge and professional skills through ongoing training;
Refuse to accept deadlines that are incompatible with the assignment.

4. Relationships between translators

Translators shall recognise all professional translators as colleagues and shall behave towards them in a confraternal and loyal manner. In particular, in the context of teamwork or collaboration, translators shall scrupulously respect the interests of their colleagues and undertake to preserve the relations that they maintain with their clients.
Translators are entitled to remuneration for their services, determined in particular on the basis of their experience, training, special skills, the technical nature of the document, the research required, the agreed deadlines, any costs incurred, investments and expenses. In the interests of quality of workmanship and except for assignments carried out on an occasional and voluntary basis as part of a social or humanitarian commitment, the translator shall refrain from soliciting or accepting remuneration, or granting discounts or rebates, which constitute acts of unfair competition.

5. Compliance with the rules of good conduct

Translators undertake to work in accordance with the Nairobi Recommendation (UNESCO, 1976). The Translator undertakes to respect intellectual property rights. Translators are also entitled to respect for their rights as authors. They also undertake to refer to the conventions of good practice applicable in the sector and country in which they work.

6. Respect for the profession and the SFT

Translators shall refrain from any behaviour likely to undermine the dignity of the profession or any act likely to bring the SFT into disrepute.
Translators shall not accept instructions from a client or employer that might constitute a breach of this Code of Ethics.

NB: The term translator should be understood here to mean any professional, woman or man, practising one of the translation professions.