ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some major ethical queries debated within interpreting studies and professional associations of conference interpreters. The first part of the chapter is devoted to the discussion of professional codes of ethics, their usefulness, limitations and criticism in view of the emergence of new settings and technologies. It highlights the role of professional associations of interpreters in order to raise awareness of ethical behaviour and best practices. It presents the main tenets of the International Association of Conference Interpreters’ (AIIC) Code of Professional Ethics, and it also describes the Directorate-General for Interpretation (DG SCIC) of the European Commission’s document entitled Ethics: A Practical Guide for DG SCIC. The second part discusses the issues of ethics in real-life situations, in crisis situations, in conference interpreter training, as well as ethical considerations when using new technologies in conference interpreting. The emphasis is put on the professionalism and the appropriate training enabling professionals to increase their motivation to perform ethically.
