When you hire an interpreter, you entrust her with much more than words. You entrust her with your strategies, your figures, sometimes your disagreements. That trust rests on one foundation: professional ethics.
The major professional associations have formalised these rules. The best known, AIIC (the International Association of Conference Interpreters), has had a code of ethics since it was founded in 1953, which its members undertake to respect (AIIC). Here are the essential principles, which apply well beyond the members of any association.
1. Professional secrecy, absolute
This is rule number one. The AIIC code requires its members to observe the strictest secrecy about everything they learn at meetings not open to the public (AIIC code). This applies to everyone: family, friends, colleagues outside the assignment, and social media.
In practice: no photos of the room, no client names on LinkedIn without permission, no anecdotes, even anonymised, that could identify a meeting. And no confidential documents in an unsecured online tool.
2. Fidelity to the message
The interpreter conveys the whole message and nothing but the message. She doesn’t add, omit or soften a statement she finds too harsh, nor does she “correct” a speaker who makes a mistake. Fidelity doesn’t mean word for word: it’s about conveying the meaning, the tone and the intention.
3. Neutrality and impartiality
The interpreter doesn’t take sides. She lends her voice to every speaker with the same care, whether or not she shares their opinions. She gives no advice, doesn’t intervene in the debate and doesn’t use her position to influence the exchange.
4. Not accepting an assignment you’re not qualified for
An honest interpreter turns down an assignment if she doesn’t have sufficient command of a language or subject, or if the conditions don’t allow her to work properly. Better to decline, or refer the client to a colleague, than to deliver a poor-quality service.
5. Avoiding conflicts of interest
Interpreting for two competing parties in the same negotiation, or using information heard on an assignment for personal gain (a stock market investment, for example), is out of the question. When in doubt, transparency with the client is a must.
6. Insisting on proper working conditions
This point sometimes surprises people, but it is part of professional ethics. An interpreter does not work alone in simultaneous for a whole day, nor with poor-quality sound. It’s not a whim: it’s the condition for guaranteeing the quality of the service, and for protecting her health. The AIIC code even forbids its members from accepting conditions contrary to its professional standards.
Why it matters to you, the client
These rules are not a formality. They guarantee that your information is protected, that your message arrives intact and that the person you’re talking to really hears you, not an edited version. Before choosing an interpreter, don’t hesitate to ask her which code she adheres to and how she handles confidentiality. Her answer will speak volumes.
Need an interpreter for a sensitive meeting? I can sign a specific non-disclosure agreement. Let’s talk.
