![Joseph Lambert BA, MA, PhD, FHEA](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/10200?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Joseph Lambert
(he/him)
BA, MA, PhD, FHEA
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Joseph Lambert
Senior Lecturer in Translation Studies
Overview
At Cardiff, I teach primarily across a range of translation modules, working with students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This includes teaching on translation theory, translation technology, translation ethics and practical translation skills (including seminars focusing on various domains of French-English translation)
As a researcher, I am primarily interested in a range of questions relating to ethics and sustainability in translation and exploring the state of the translation industry more widely. I have written and presented on topics including codes of ethics, rates of pay, job quality, and job satisfaction.
My research seeks to unite theoretical conceptions of ethics and translation with “real-life” practice. This practical thread of my research is informed by my experience as a translator, having set up my own freelance translation company in 2012, specialising in sporting translation and working with a number of high-profile clients.
Publication
2026
- Penet, J. , Lambert, J. and Walker, C. 2026. Love’s labour’s found? A data-driven exploration of job quality among UK-based freelance translators. Target: International Journal of Translation Studies (10.1075/target.00037.pen)
- Lambert, J. , Penet, J. and Walker, C. 2026. The good life? Exploring human capital sustainability among UK freelance translators. JoSTrans: The Journal of Specialised Translation 46 , pp.2-20. (10.26034/cm.jostrans.2026.8304)
- Lambert, J. , Walker, C. and Penet, J. 2026. Translation through the looking glass: psychological and human capital sustainability in the translation industry. Parallèles
2025
- Walker, C. and Lambert, J. eds. 2025. The Routledge handbook of the translation industry. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. (10.4324/9781003381303)
- Walker, C. and Lambert, J. 2025. What's in a name? Mapping the translation industry. In: The Routledge Handbook of the Translation Industry. Routledge Handbooks in Translation and Interpreting Studies London: Routledge. , pp.3-25. (10.4324/9781003381303-2)
- DePalma, D. et al., 2025. Roundtable. In: The Routledge Handbook of the Translation Industry. London, UK: Routledge. , pp.545-560. (10.4324/9781003381303-40)
2024
- Lambert, J. 2024. Codes and coffee houses. ITI Bulletin , pp.33-34.
- Walker, C. and Lambert, J. 2024. Show me the money: Bringing pay, rate-setting, and financial sustainability into the translation classroom. In: Ward, M. , Eugeni, C. and Walker, C. eds. Teaching Translation: Contexts, Modes and Technologies. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. , pp.27-52.
- Walker, C. , Ivins, C. and Lambert, J. 2024. Freelance translator rates: The value of experience. Project Report.University of Leeds.
- Lambert, J. and Walker, C. 2024. Thriving or surviving: Motivation, satisfaction, and existential sustainability in the translation profession. Mikael: The Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research 17 (1), pp.89-104. (10.61200/mikael.136209)
- Walker, C. , Ivins, C. and Lambert, J. 2024. Freelance translator rates: The value of ITI membership. Project Report.University of Leeds.
2023
- Lambert, J. 2023. From stagnation to innovation: codes of ethics and the profession today. Presented at: CIUTI Conference 2021 Grenada, Spain 16-17 September 2021. Published in: Bourne, J. et al., Reflexiones sobre ética profesional de traductores e intérpretes y buenas prácticas. Comares
- Lambert, J. 2023. The 'right' path: ethics, translation and our future. ITI Bulletin , pp.23-24.
- Lambert, J. 2023. Translation ethics. Routledge Introductions to Translation and Interpreting Routledge. (10.4324/9781003148265)
2022
- Lambert, J. and Walker, C. 2022. Because we’re worth it: disentangling freelance translation, status, and rate-setting in the United Kingdom. Translation Spaces 11 (2), pp.277-302. (10.1075/ts.21030.lam)
- Bennett, P. and Lambert, J. 2022. Up to code: Where next for professional translation ethics?. Linguist 61 (2), pp.26-27.
2020
- Lambert, J. 2020. Professional translator ethics. In: The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Ethics. Routledge(10.4324/9781003127970-14/professional-translator-ethics-joseph-lambert)
2018
- Lambert, J. 2018. How ethical are codes of ethics? Using illusions of neutrality to sell translations. Journal of Specialised Translation 30 , pp.269-287.
Articles
- Penet, J. , Lambert, J. and Walker, C. 2026. Love’s labour’s found? A data-driven exploration of job quality among UK-based freelance translators. Target: International Journal of Translation Studies (10.1075/target.00037.pen)
- Lambert, J. , Penet, J. and Walker, C. 2026. The good life? Exploring human capital sustainability among UK freelance translators. JoSTrans: The Journal of Specialised Translation 46 , pp.2-20. (10.26034/cm.jostrans.2026.8304)
- Lambert, J. , Walker, C. and Penet, J. 2026. Translation through the looking glass: psychological and human capital sustainability in the translation industry. Parallèles
- Lambert, J. 2024. Codes and coffee houses. ITI Bulletin , pp.33-34.
- Lambert, J. and Walker, C. 2024. Thriving or surviving: Motivation, satisfaction, and existential sustainability in the translation profession. Mikael: The Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research 17 (1), pp.89-104. (10.61200/mikael.136209)
- Lambert, J. 2023. The 'right' path: ethics, translation and our future. ITI Bulletin , pp.23-24.
- Lambert, J. and Walker, C. 2022. Because we’re worth it: disentangling freelance translation, status, and rate-setting in the United Kingdom. Translation Spaces 11 (2), pp.277-302. (10.1075/ts.21030.lam)
- Bennett, P. and Lambert, J. 2022. Up to code: Where next for professional translation ethics?. Linguist 61 (2), pp.26-27.
- Lambert, J. 2018. How ethical are codes of ethics? Using illusions of neutrality to sell translations. Journal of Specialised Translation 30 , pp.269-287.
Book sections
- Walker, C. and Lambert, J. 2025. What's in a name? Mapping the translation industry. In: The Routledge Handbook of the Translation Industry. Routledge Handbooks in Translation and Interpreting Studies London: Routledge. , pp.3-25. (10.4324/9781003381303-2)
- DePalma, D. et al., 2025. Roundtable. In: The Routledge Handbook of the Translation Industry. London, UK: Routledge. , pp.545-560. (10.4324/9781003381303-40)
- Walker, C. and Lambert, J. 2024. Show me the money: Bringing pay, rate-setting, and financial sustainability into the translation classroom. In: Ward, M. , Eugeni, C. and Walker, C. eds. Teaching Translation: Contexts, Modes and Technologies. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. , pp.27-52.
- Lambert, J. 2020. Professional translator ethics. In: The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Ethics. Routledge(10.4324/9781003127970-14/professional-translator-ethics-joseph-lambert)
Books
- Walker, C. and Lambert, J. eds. 2025. The Routledge handbook of the translation industry. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. (10.4324/9781003381303)
- Lambert, J. 2023. Translation ethics. Routledge Introductions to Translation and Interpreting Routledge. (10.4324/9781003148265)
Conferences
- Lambert, J. 2023. From stagnation to innovation: codes of ethics and the profession today. Presented at: CIUTI Conference 2021 Grenada, Spain 16-17 September 2021. Published in: Bourne, J. et al., Reflexiones sobre ética profesional de traductores e intérpretes y buenas prácticas. Comares
Monographs
- Walker, C. , Ivins, C. and Lambert, J. 2024. Freelance translator rates: The value of experience. Project Report.University of Leeds.
- Walker, C. , Ivins, C. and Lambert, J. 2024. Freelance translator rates: The value of ITI membership. Project Report.University of Leeds.
Research
As a researcher, I am primarily interested in a range of questions relating to ethics in translation, including:
- Job quality and meaningful work
- Work-related wellbeing
- The status of codes of ethics for translation
- Translators' agency and ethical decision-making
- Rates of pay in the translation industry
- Issues of professionalisation and status
- Ethical considerations in relation to translation technology
- Sustainability in the translation industry
Biography
I hold a BA in French and Italian, an MA in Translation Studies, and a PhD in Translation Studies, all from the University of Hull.
I have also been a Fellow of AdvanceHE since 2019.
Honours and awards
2024: Winner of the ITI's John Sykes Prize for Excellence for outstanding achievement in translation or interpreting over a long period: https://www.iti.org.uk/discover/iti-awards.html
Professional memberships
- Member of the International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies (IATIS) and Chair of the IATIS membership committee.
- Academic member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI).
- Vice-president of the Association of Programmes in Translation and Interpreting Studies (APTIS).
- Associate Editor (for Special Issues) of the journal Interpreter and Translator Trainer.
Academic positions
- 2024 - present: Cardiff University: Senior Lecturer in Translation Studies
- 2020 - 2024: Cardiff University: Lecturer in Translation Studies
- 2019 - 2020: Durham University: Teaching Fellow in French and Translation Studies
- 2018 - 2019: University of Birmingham: Teaching Fellow in French and Translation
- 2014 - 2018: University of Hull: Associate Lecturer in French and Translation Studies
Supervisions
Translation ethics, the translation industry, translation technology
Current supervision
News articles
Contact Details
Specialisms
- Ethics
- Sustainability
- Workplace wellbeing and quality of working life
