When it comes to specialist technical and healthcare translation, there’s a lot more to consider than just the words on the page. As a leading medical and technical translation company with years of expertise under our belt, we know that writing effectively for translation requires careful planning and attention to detail.
Want to short version? Just download the Checklist at the bottom of this blog.
Getting Started: Your Medical and Technical Translation Plan
Know Your Audience
One of the most critical things to consider when writing for medical and technical translation is who your intended audience is. Will this documentation be read by highly educated professionals and experts in the field? Or does it need to be accessible to a more general audience?
Clearly defining the education level and expertise of your readers allows our linguists to strike just the right tone.
Understand the Material’s Purpose
How the translated material will ultimately be used is another key consideration. Is this just for informational purposes or internal communication, allowing for a draft translation? Or is it destined for publication, requiring a much more thorough editing and review process? The end use shapes how you and your translation company approach the project.
Localisation Matters
Where in the world will this material be read? Even within the same language, usage can vary substantially by country or region. Providing exact localisation context allows our linguists to adapt the translation accordingly for the most accurate and culturally nuanced translation..
Don’t Sacrifice Quality for Speed
As with any premium content, quality translation simply can’t be rushed, so build adequate time into your project plan for this step. We know you’re working on tight timelines, but be sure to give our teams the time required to produce an exceptional translation.
A Checklist to Consider when Creating your Medical or Technical Documents for Translation
When writing content that will be translated, there are a number of best practices to keep in mind:
- Avoid culturally-specific allegories, humour and historical/political references that may not translate well
- Use invented terms, company jargon, and industry-specific language with caution, as direct equivalents may not exist
- If possible, allow our linguists to liaise directly with your subject matter experts to clarify any ambiguities
- Leave ample white space and short headers/footers to accommodate text expansion in other languages
- Provide context by sharing any previously translated content in the target language(s)
Above all, it really pays to allow our skilled linguists the freedom to adapt your content linguistically and culturally as needed. Too literal of a translation frequently fails to capture the original meaning and intent.
Leverage Our Medical and Technical Translation Expertise
Writing for translation requires keeping a lot of considerations in mind, especially when working with specialist medical, scientific, and technical subject matter. As experts in this space, we have extensive experience ensuring our clients always get the accurate, localised translation they need.
Whether you need medical translation for healthcare documentation, technical manuals translated for equipment manufacturing, or any other technical translation services, our teams apply decades of hard-won expertise to deliver outstanding results every time.
Ready to discuss your next medical or technical translation project? Get in touch with our linguists today!
