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Reaffirming its faith in literary translation as an essential cultural force
throughout the world,
Recognizing that translation is a creative art in its own right and that the
translator should be treated as an author,
Recalling the international instruments that have been adopted in the field
of translation and to defend the rights of translators,
Recalling the work done by the Society of Authors, International Federation
of Translators, and other organizations,
Believing in the necessity of strengthening the rights of translators and articulating
their responsibilities,
International PEN hereby issues its "Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities
of Translators"
Article 1. The translator is the primary link between the original work and
its audience in another language.
Article 2. The recognition of translation as a literary endeavor must constitute
the basis of any agreement between translator and publisher.
Article 3. The translator should be treated as an author, and as an author
should receive due contractual rights, including copyright.
Article 4. On book jackets, covers, and title pages, as well as publicity
materials and library listings, the translators' names must be appropriately
displayed.
Article 5. Where possible, a binding contract should be drawn up, in accordance
with the laws of the countries involved, between authors/original publishers
and translators/publishers.
Article 6. A translator's continuing royalty rights must be respected and
payments made accordingly, with or without a contract.
Article 7. Translation of copyrighted works must not be published without
the permission of the original authors or their representatives, unless they
are inaccessible due to circumstances beyond their control.
Article 8. Translators should respect the original and refrain from making
cuts or changes unless such alterations are permitted by the writers or their
authorized representatives. Translators' texts must be respected. Except under
extenuating circumstances, there should be no editorial changes without translators'
consent and approval.
To further the aims of the above "Declaration," International PEN:
Calls on its Centers to do everything in their power to implement in their
respective countries or regions the principles articulated in the "Declaration,"
Requests its "Translation Committee" to draft ''Guidelines for Translation
Agreements" and a "Model Contract,"
Invites its Centers and individual members to create and support programs designed
to promote literary translation all over the world.
Prepared by the Translation Committee of International PEN and the Translation
Committee of PEN American Center, January 1986 |
