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Sites of translation in digital reporting

Author

Listed:
  • Joanne Locke
  • Nick Rowbottom
  • Indrit Troshani

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyse the process by which “analogue” corporate reports produced under a “paper paradigm” are translated into a machine language as required by digital reporting. The paper uses Austin and Searle’s linguistic speech act theory to examine how digitally translating reporting information into atomised data affects the infrastructure and practice of accounting. Design/methodology/approach - Extensive interview and observation evidence focussed on the IFRS Foundation’s digital reporting project is analysed. An interpretive approach is informed by the concepts of L compatibility, illocution and perlocutionary acts which are drawn from speech act theory. Findings - Two key sites of translation are identified. The first site concerns the translation of accounting standards, principles and practices into taxonomies for digital tagging. Controversies arise over the definition of accounting concepts in a site populated by accounting and IT-orientated experts. The second site of translation is in the routine production and dissemination of digital reports which impacts the L compatibility between preparers and users. Originality/value - The paper highlights a previously unexplored field of translation in accounting and contributes a unique perspective that demonstrates that machine translation is no longer marginalised but is the “primary” text with effects on the infrastructure and practice of accounting. It extends speech act theory by applying it to the digital domain and in the context of translation between languages.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanne Locke & Nick Rowbottom & Indrit Troshani, 2018. "Sites of translation in digital reporting," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 31(7), pages 2006-2030, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:aaajpp:aaaj-07-2017-3005
    DOI: 10.1108/AAAJ-07-2017-3005
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Riaz, Zahid & Ray, Pradeep & Ray, Sangeeta, 2022. "The impact of digitalisation on corporate governance in Australia," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 410-424.
    2. Valentinetti, Diego & Flores Muñoz, Francisco, 2021. "Internet of things: Emerging impacts on digital reporting," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 549-562.
    3. Emilio Abad-Segura & Mariana-Daniela González-Zamar, 2020. "Research Analysis on Emerging Technologies in Corporate Accounting," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-29, September.
    4. Grégory Jemine & François-Régis Puyou & Florence Bouvet, 2024. "Technological innovation and the co-production of accounting services in small accounting firms," Post-Print hal-04325739, HAL.
    5. Troshani, Indrit & Janssen, Marijn & Lymer, Andy & Parker, Lee D., 2018. "Digital transformation of business-to-government reporting: An institutional work perspective," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 17-36.

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