ETHICS VS ACCURACY: WHEN THE TRANSLATOR MUST BETRAY THE SOURCE
Keywords:
translation ethics, translation accuracy, fidelity, cultural adaptation, translator's responsibility, source text, target audience, audiovisual translation, equivalence, ethics in translation.Abstract
Translation is often described as a process of preserving the meaning and intention of the source text. However, translators frequently encounter situations where complete accuracy conflicts with ethical responsibilities. This paper examines the tension between ethics and accuracy in translation, focusing on cases in which translators intentionally modify, omit, or adapt elements of the source text to avoid cultural misunderstanding, discrimination, offensive language, or potential harm. Drawing on translation theories and ethical principles, the study explores how translators balance fidelity to the original with responsibility toward the target audience. The paper argues that, in certain contexts, departing from strict accuracy is not a betrayal of the source but a professional and ethical necessity that ensures effective communication and cultural sensitivity.
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