Translation ethics

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper presents a comprehensive review of Joseph Lambert’s Translation Ethics. The book explores the nature of ethics, its philosophical underpinnings, and the development of ethical theory, emphasizing translators’ social obligations. With 9 chapters featuring thematic discussions and case studies that encourage critical thinking, the book also tackles crucial aspects like machine translation, post-editing, ecological translation practices, and their effects on translators’ digital carbon footprint. While making significant contributions (theoretical contributions, practical contributions, and distinctive role among similar works), the book also has limitations. It fails to clarify the subject attributes and research methods of translation ethics, lacks a clear consensus on the “ethical” approach in translation, and inadequately distinguishes different ethical stances. Additionally, it scarcely addresses certain issues such as evaluating machine translation quality, maintaining translator subjectivity with AI tools, guiding translator decisions in cultural conflicts, and resolving copyright and confidentiality concerns in the context of AI-assisted translation. Nevertheless, the book overall plays a substantial role in promoting the understanding and development of translation ethics, and calls for further in-depth discussions on ethical matters both within and outside the industry to achieve sustainable growth and the well-being of professionals.