ON ONE OF THE TYPES OF SPECIALISED TRANSLATION

Abstract

When we talk about medical translation, as many researchers of the problem have well understood, we are actually talking about a double meaning of the word translation – interlingual translation, but also knowledge translation. However, as a type of specialized translation, it implies working with medical terminology, including the specificity of terms, the existing general change or shift of meanings, and the constant expansion of the medical lexicon. Moreover, medical terminology is not standardised in all languages. The linguistic dynamics, the accelerated introduction of new medical concepts make the need to access online resources for medical terminology of utmost lexical interest for translators of medical texts. To the extent that medical information is continuously expanding globally, rapid access to current linguistic, subject and specific terminology is critical. In the past, the most reliable resources were scientific journals, conference proceedings. These are now joined by online sources such as Medline or Medscape. In short, among specialized translation, medical translation is not only one of the most difficult, but also the most responsible. Because any mistaken epicrisis or diagnosis is not just a job poorly done by the translator, it can cost the health and life of a particular human being. This paper deals with some of the dangers faced by the translator of this type of text, especially if they are not medically qualified – dealing with secondary terms, medical metaphors, false friends, secondary terms.