Although previous research on ethics demonstrates growing awareness that
many agents or subjectivities besides translators and interpreters are
involved in translation and interpreting processes, the consequences of
this multiplicity for thinking about ethics in translation still lacks
focused attention. In this introduction, we show how this special issue,
titled Voice, Ethics and Translation, reduces this gap by
highlighting the concept of voice and the idea that the world of
translating and interpreting consists of many voices ‘having a say’.
This carries with it the potential for negotiation, conflict and dissent
regarding what constitutes good and bad translation and interpreting
practice. The nine contributions discuss questions such as whose voices
are involved in ethical negotiations, what is the nature of these
negotiations, who has more power to have their voices heard, and whether
translators and interpreters should be given more trust and
responsibility. As evinced by these various contributions, a consensus
seems to be emerging to the effect that rather than blindly following
outside authorities in ethical matters, translators and interpreters
need to be encouraged to independently reflect on a variety of voices on
ethics and be actively conscientious and responsible in actual
translation and interpreting situations.