Code of Professional Conduct and Business Practices for American Translators Association

I am fully devoted to the American Translators Association Code of Professional Conduct:

As a Translator, a bridge for ideas from one language to another and one culture to another, I commit myself to the highest standards of performance, ethical behavior, and business practices.

A. I will endeavor to translate the original message faithfully, to satisfy the needs of the end user(s). I acknowledge that this level of excellence requires:

1. mastery of the target language equivalent to that of an educated native speaker,
2. up-to-date knowledge of the subject material and its terminology in both languages,
3. access to information resources and reference materials, and knowledge of the tools of my profession,
4. continuing efforts to improve, broaden, and deepen my skills and knowledge.

B. I will be truthful about my qualifications and will not accept any assignments for which I am not fully qualified.

C. I will safeguard the interests of my clients as my own and divulge no confidential information.

D. I will notify my clients of any unresolved difficulties. If we cannot resolve a dispute, we will seek arbitration.

E. I will use a client as a reference only if I am prepared to name a person to attest to the quality of my work.

F. I will respect and refrain from interfering with or supplanting any business relationship between my client and my client's client.

Please go from Code of Professional Conduct to CONTACT form to tell me about your translation project for a free quote

Sincerely,

Olga Kellen,
English - Russian Translator,
Associate member of ATA,
American Translators Association

P.S. The American Translators Association (ATA) Board of Directors voted in 2022 to update the name of the Code of Professional Conduct and Business Practices to the ATA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. The full text copied from the ATA website is below. 

Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility

We the members of the American Translators Association accept as our ethical and professional duty:

1.       to conduct ourselves in a professional manner with honesty and integrity in our interactions with clients, colleagues, and the general public, and to refrain from conduct that brings the Association, its members, and our professions into disrepute;

2.       to honestly represent and work within our qualifications, competencies, capabilities, and responsibilities;

3.       to disclose to the relevant parties any real or potential conflict of interest and avoid situations that may lead to a perceived conflict of interest;

4.       to abide by commitments and contracts made in advance and by mutual agreement in the course of our professional interactions and activities;

5.       to hold in confidence, not divulge, and protect privileged and/or confidential information obtained in the course of our work;

6.       to convey meaning between people, organizations, and cultures accurately, appropriately, and without bias, depending on the context of the source, purpose, readership or audience, and medium;

7.       to maintain and improve knowledge, skills, and abilities by embracing continuing professional development, keeping abreast of changes in language and culture, technology, subject matter, and professional practice.

As approved by the ATA Board of Directors November 2022