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Colliding Worlds: Issues Relating to Language Translation in Accounting and Some Lessons from Other Disciplines

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  • Lisa Evans
  • Rachel Baskerville
  • Katariina Nara

Abstract

type="main"> This paper explores the implications of language translation in accounting. It draws on research on translation in other disciplines, and on insights from applied linguistics. It examines practical problems and solutions explored in other disciplines that we deem relevant to accounting. The paper also examines the ideological, cultural, legal, and political consequences of translation. We find that the ambiguity inherent in translation is, on the one hand, relevant for the translation of accounting principles and can contribute to accounting convergence. We show, on the other hand, that it has the potential to be exploited in ideologically or pragmatically motivated distortions in the implementation of accounting regulation. We further argue that the importance of translation in accounting is underestimated or disregarded, inter alia because it has limited effect on the culturally and economically most dominant stakeholders. We finally examine the implications of translation problems for less powerful stakeholders and smaller language communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Evans & Rachel Baskerville & Katariina Nara, 2015. "Colliding Worlds: Issues Relating to Language Translation in Accounting and Some Lessons from Other Disciplines," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 51(1), pages 1-36, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:51:y:2015:i:1:p:1-36
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/abac.12040
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Peipei Pan & Chris Patel, 2018. "The Influence of Native Versus Foreign Language on Chinese Subjects’ Aggressive Financial Reporting Judgments," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(3), pages 863-878, July.
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    9. Zhang, Yuqian & De Zoysa, Anura & Cortese, Corinne, 2023. "Foreign language effect in accounting uncertainty expressions: Interpretation and probabilistic estimation," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
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    11. Kettunen, Jaana, 2017. "Interlingual translation of the International Financial Reporting Standards as institutional work," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 38-54.
    12. Peipei Pan & Chris Patel, 2024. "Do Internal Auditors Make Consistent Ethical Judgments in English and Chinese in Reporting Wrongdoing?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 194(2), pages 433-453, October.
    13. Christopher W. Nobes & Stephen A. Zeff, 2016. "Have Canada, Japan and Switzerland Adopted IFRS?," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 26(3), pages 284-290, September.
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