More than any other similar work, pharmaceutical translation requires special attention to accuracy, consistency and comprehension of the information handled. A translation error in this area can have serious consequences for patients and jeopardise the safety and efficacy of drugs. In this article and another one to be published soon, we will examine in detail five of the most common mistakes that one is most likely to make in a medical translation project, in order to show how to avoid them.
One of the most common errors in pharmaceutical translations is the incorrect or inconsistent use of terminology. Medical terminology is extremely complex and specific, and each term has a precise meaning in the pharmaceutical context: mistranslating a term or using inappropriate synonyms can lead to misunderstandings or the misinterpretation of medical information. A good example for this is certainly the term 'side effect', with which we are all familiar in a general sense: this must, however, be translated carefully to avoid confusion between the expected side effects of a drug and unexpected adverse reactions, which have a different meaning in a medical sense.
Pharmaceutical terminology is constantly evolving due to scientific advances and medical discoveries. Professional translators specialising in the medical field must therefore be constantly up-to-date on new terminologies, new molecules and drug development processes. It is essential to maintain an accurate and comprehensive glossary that includes the most commonly used pharmaceutical terms and their approved translations. Furthermore, the use of terminology glossaries and computer-aided translation tools, such as a lot of 'machine translation' software or the latest AI-based systems, can help ensure consistency and accuracy in the translation of pharmaceutical terms. A careful terminology check throughout the translation process is however crucial to avoid terminology errors and ensure the correct understanding of pharmaceutical information for both health professionals and patients, and ensuring that the agency and professionals chosen take this care is vital in order to avoid errors with potentially very serious consequences.
Another mistake that is easy to run into in pharmaceutical translations concerns the cultural adaptation of the text. Translation is not only about rendering one language into another, but also about adapting the message to the target culture: translators, in order to do their job properly, need to understand cultural differences in medical practices, local regulations and the use of drugs with the same precision and accuracy with which they understand the literal and scientific meaning of the specialised terms they encounter in the text. For example, the names of drugs may vary from one country to another, as well as the mode of administration and therapeutic indications, and a professional translator specialising in pharmaceuticals must be aware of these differences and adapt the text appropriately, ensuring that the message is understood accurately. Cultural adaptation also includes the use of units of measurement, date and time formats and other local conventions. An error in cultural adaptation - an area that might even appear trivial to the layman - can very seriously compromise the communication and understanding of pharmaceutical information, jeopardising patient safety and leading to even dramatic consequences.
Culture greatly influences the way people understand and interpret information of all kinds, and medical information is certainly no exception. Therefore, professional translators must carefully consider the cultural context of pharmaceutical translations. This requires an in-depth knowledge of the medical practices, regulations and social conventions of the destination country. A competent translator must in fact be able to adapt the text, obviously maintaining the integrity of the information, but making it culturally appropriate: for example, changes may be necessary in the choice of idiomatic expressions used, or research into examples or analogies that are comprehensible in the target culture without any risk of misunderstanding, to replace those unsuitable in the original document. Ensuring that the translators who will handle your project have this sensitivity and expertise is a key step in choosing your medical translation partner.
In the next article (link ) in this mini-series, we will discuss the three other errors most commonly encountered in the unprofessional handling of pharmaceutical and medical translations, exploring syntax, the use of machine translation systems, and safety information related to drugs.
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