Codes of ethics and professionalisation of translation and interpreting: a comparative approach to Japanese and Australian cases

Previous studies on translation and interpreting (T&I) as a profession postulate that the construction of social recognition and professional identities is indispensable in professionalising the field. Maintaining a code of ethics is therefore an essential step for professionalisation. However, little is known about how different ways of implementing codes of ethics affect this professionalisation process. The ongoing multiculturalisation in Japan requires establishing T&I as a profession. Due to the development of new training programs and certification systems, different codes of ethics exist in parallel in Japan, maintained by various institutions. In contrast, in Australia, whose history of T&I professionalisation dates back to the 1970s, the code of ethics set out by the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT) is centrally applied to an array of T&I fields. Knowledge of this code is assessed by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) and taught in NAATI-endorsed tertiary programs. In this paper, I have twofold objectives. First, I compare the macro-level configurations of T&I codes of ethics in Japan and Australia. Second, I compare the micro-level contents of selected codes of ethics: those of the AUSIT, the Registration Centre of Certified Translators, the Japan Translation Association and that for consultation interpreting. I report on the findings from these analyses, focusing on their implications for T&I professionalisation.