Language professionals and particularly medical translators have to confront multiple challenges while working on the translation of medical content. The emergence of multiple diseases and drugs demands accurate translation to ease the process of medical translation. Medical companies as well as the pharmaceutical industry need to know that such translation comes with multiple challenges, unlike general translation. Translation of medical phrases and terms is complex and complicated. The process of translating the medical text includes multiple documents and their translation. It talks about reports, patient case information, insurance claims, and certain other medical documents from one language to another.
The medical and pharmaceutical translation is also challenging because it contains sensitive and confidential information. This may include patient medical records and the information of participants and volunteers for the clinical trials. This can contain data of patients who may have some sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, the medical companies as well as their translation partners need to be clear with their translation needs. They also need to understand that translating the tough medical terms can be hectic and draining and they should take certain measures to simplify the process for tough medical terms.
Here are a few practices that can help translators and translation agencies with a smooth translation of difficult medical terms.
Establishing a glossary list
This should be the first and foremost step of the medical company and translation agency dealing with medical and pharmaceutical translation services. Establishing a list of medical terminology with its proposed meaning not only eases the process of translating medical terms but also helps bring consistency and precision in the translation which are core components of the translation process. Medical companies can work on this glossary list before starting the translation process. It helps save time and money. Setting it once can help the concerned people to use it whenever they want saving translators a big hassle.
Breaking down acronyms and abbreviations
A large portion of the medical text comprises acronyms and abbreviations which makes translation of medical terms ambiguous. Medical translators can simplify the process of translation by breaking down these acronyms and short forms. Breaking down these and using their full forms can help with more accurate, and more precise translations of the medical text. Many of these words don’t get exact meanings in the target language. Therefore, working on these terms strategically can help with a seamless translation.
Using a plain language
Translating medical jargon often gets technical and also difficult to understand. Medical translators must understand and make it a practice to use plain language which makes the translation an easier and more practical process. Not everyone understands medical terms and phrases. It should be translated considering the knowledge of a layman and an ordinary person. Using plain language for medical terms can make it reach more audiences effectively and serve the purpose dully. It also helps the target audiences to connect well and they naturally feel included in the new medical products and equipment.
Using a translation memory tool
A translation memory tool can not be a substitute for a human translator. However, it can help you with online medical translation services. Using memory tools can be beneficial with your future translations too. It saves the previously translated content, offers suggestions for tough medical terms, simplifies the translation, and plays a pivotal role in maintaining consistency in the medical translation. Furthermore, it also saves time and money. However, the translation that is done using a translation memory tool must undergo human check and supervision for the final scan and scrutiny. As the text translated by the machine is vulnerable to more mistakes and inaccuracies.
Considering transliteration
Taking into account the factor of transliteration also makes a great contribution to the simple execution of the translation process of tough medical terms. Multiple medical terms don’t carry similar words and meanings in the target languages. Working on finding a suitable word can be time-consuming and it might not go well with the original text. Therefore, medical companies should be flexible on this, and medical translators should also work on considering transliteration where they can swap a tough medical term and phrase for a relatively similar and predictable word in the target language. This not only saves time but also makes the translation less robotic and monotonous.
Getting feedback from a native speaker
Once you are done with the medical terms translation, you should ensure to consult native speakers, language professionals as well as subject matter experts. A medical translator should never overlook the need for accuracy and precision in the medical text. There is no room for errors in the medical and healthcare industry as inaccuracies often lead to disastrous consequences. Therefore, consulting the relevant people and taking their feedback can help with the quality of the translation and make translation of medical terms easier and more convenient. This further ascertains that the content translated sounds natural in the target language.
Conclusion
Translation of medical text is hectic and challenging. The medical industry has specialized terms and jargon and demands maximum accuracy. To make the translation a smooth and easy process, translating the tough medical terms should be taken as an important step. The translation of medical terms can be improved with certain practices. For reliable medical terms translation, setting up a glossary list, breaking down acronyms and abbreviations, using plain language, and getting feedback from the native translator could be helpful.
