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Can Translations Achieve Comparability? The Case of Translating IFRSs into Swedish

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  • Jörgen Dahlgren
  • Sven-Arne Nilsson

Abstract

Since 2005, all listed EU/EFTA companies are obliged to prepare their consolidated statements fully in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). The requirement is a consequence of an EU decision, in Lisbon in March 2000, aiming at improving the flow of capital within a free internal market. Since the IFRSs are in the English language, this has made it necessary to translate them into all the languages in the European Union. The purpose of the translation is to produce the same quality regulation in each member state and consequently achieve comparability. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the comparability objective from an accounting language perspective. We do this by using the translation of IFRSs into Swedish. Since the IFRSs are translated from English to every other language within the EU, the Swedish experience is potentially relevant to all the other member states. The discussion is based on translation theory and the result indicates that comparability is not achieved simply by using words from another language. To achieve true and genuine comparability, contexts need to match or be made congruent.

Suggested Citation

  • Jörgen Dahlgren & Sven-Arne Nilsson, 2012. "Can Translations Achieve Comparability? The Case of Translating IFRSs into Swedish," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 39-59, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:acceur:v:9:y:2012:i:1:p:39-59
    DOI: 10.1080/17449480.2012.664391
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hellmann, Andreas & Patel, Chris, 2021. "Translation of International Financial Reporting Standards and implications for judgments and decision-making," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C).
    2. Elkins, Hamilton & Entwistle, Gary, 2018. "A commentary on accounting standards and the disclosure problem: Exploring a way forward," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 79-89.
    3. Maradona, Agus Fredy & Chand, Parmod, 2018. "The Pathway of Transition to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Developing Countries: Evidence from Indonesia," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 57-68.
    4. Laaksonen, Jenni, 2022. "Translation, hegemony and accounting: A critical research framework with an illustration from the IFRS context," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    5. Marco Fasan & Carlo Marcon, 2014. "Accounting Tradition and other drivers of the Fair Value choice: An Opportunistic Management perspective," Working Papers 13, Venice School of Management - Department of Management, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia.
    6. Marco Fasan & Carlo Marcon, 2018. "Accounting Choice under IFRS: The Role of Accounting Tradition and Managerial Opportunism," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 8(3), pages 209-223, July.
    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.
    8. Hellmann, Andreas & Patel, Chris & Tsunogaya, Noriyuki, 2021. "Foreign-language effect and professionals’ judgments on fair value measurement: Evidence from Germany and the United Kingdom," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C).
    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).
    10. 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.
    11. 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.

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