Medical translation is not as complicated as we think, but it is not a simple job either. Mastering medical translation skills is necessary to achieve the best translations.
1. Use a dictionary and acquire knowledge in translation. Since it is impossible to know all the words in an article, consulting a dictionary for unfamiliar vocabulary is the best approach. However, this does not mean that the dictionary is the only reference source to consider despite its benefit of improving translation speed. It is also important to take professional background into account to validate the correctness of a translated article. This is normal since some words have multiple definitions in a dictionary or are polysemous. Therefore, a translator must possess professional knowledge to enable him to use proper terms in an article. Literal translation is simply not enough, because it is important to give the meaning of a sentence or expression to make it sound more natural.
2. Accumulate relevant knowledge and skills. It is necessary for a translator to have dissertation writing skills in English, as well as extensive vocabulary to improve reading and medical translation speed. Acquiring vocabulary is essential to improving capabilities in writing and translation of professional essays, and understanding medical articles. Initially, language errors may occur when doing a medical translation. Ask help or check the medical translation again for any errors and make the necessary revisions or improvements.
3. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and knowledge. Since there are changes in the medical field with each passing day, many
Chinese translation companies come up with new medical translations. A translator who is not updated with the latest trends would surely fall behind. Medical terms are constantly evolving and new words/terms emerge that are even difficult for medical professionals to master. Hence, Chinese translation companies need to further enhance their capabilities in this area.