Translation: A transcultural activity Andrea Rossi the meaning of a source-language text through an “colere ”, which means to tend to the earth and Consultant in Medical Writing, equivalent target-language text”. 3 The Cambridge grow, or to cultivate and nurture. 8 Culture Communications, and Scientific Affairs, Nyon, definition is “something that is translated, or the encompasses the social behaviour and norms Switzerland process of translating something, from one found in human societies, as well as the know - language to another”. 4 Others define the same ledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and activity as “an act through which the content of a habits of the individuals in these groups. 9 The Correspondence to: text is transferred from the source language into intangible cultural heritage of each society Andrea Rossi the target language”, “a mental activity in which includes science, together with practices of R.te de St. Cergue, 6 the meaning of given linguistic discourse is political organisation and social institutions, 1260 Nyon rendered from one language to another”, or “the mythology, philosophy, and literature. 10 Humans Switzerland act of transferring the linguistic entities from one acquire culture through the processes of +41 793022845 language into their equivalents into another enculturation and socialisation, resulting in the [email protected] language”. 5 diversity of cultures across societies. In contrast to other languages, English When writing about health, translation of distinguishes between translating (a written text) scientific texts plays a special role aimed at public Abstract and interpreting (oral or signed communication education and prevention of diseases as well as Effective communication is the goal of any between users of different languages). According saving mental and physical health. For instance, professional medical and communication to this distinction, translation can begin only after when the readers are specialised healthcare writer. Transferring the correct messages from the appearance of writing within a language providers, the language to be used is usually well one language to another is a task that is community; 6 it does not apply to texts that are coded to assure the reader of the expertise of the increasingly covered by software, but expected to be used without the use of non- author in the specific field. Some medical texts, translation machines cannot confer the written signs. especially when published in peer-reviewed feeling of people with a different background. journals, regulatory documents, or specialised Any medical translation is not just a Is translating enough to effectively books, are exceedingly difficult to read by non- transformation of the text from the source communicate? specialised readers, meaning they can even be language to the output one: a translated text Communication is derived from the Latin cum difficult for a physician with a different area of must communicate the exact meaning in the (with) and munire (link), and the Latin word specialisation. source language and, thus, has to fit with the communico means to “share, let This scientific style provides reader’s culture. participate”. The term “communi - information, presents exact and cation” has the common In contrast to relatively complete scientific meaning “to impart or other languages, English knowledge, and addresses a Introduction exchange information, distinguishes between relatively small group of The word translation derives from the Latin ideas, or feelings”. Thus, translating (a written text) professionals well acquain - translatio , which itself comes from trans - and fero , communication is a and interpreting (oral or ted with the subject. It is together meaning “to carry across” or “to bring process that involves what characterised by the matter across”. The modern Romance languages use a receiver understands or signed communication of fact, being clear, explicit, words for translation derived from that and the thinks of something 7 and is between users of different unambiguous, precise, and alternative Latin traduco (“to lead across”). The successful when all parties have languages). concise; it must have stereo - Germanic (except Dutch) and Slavic languages the same understanding of what typical lexicology and syntax and likewise use calques of these Latin sources. 1 The has been communicated (Figure 1). Ancient Greek term for translation, μετάφρασις This is one of the most difficult tasks a (metaphrasis , “a speaking across”), has supplied scientific communicator must face. Figure 1. The fundamentals of successful English with the term “metaphrase” (a “literal”, Effectively communicating when using communication or “word-for-word”, translation) – as opposed to different languages is paramount. If you feel “paraphrase” (“a saying in other words”, from communicating in another language is difficult, l Communication is a two-way παράφρασις , paraphrasis ). 1 Metaphrase corresp - you are a candid communicator: each language process onds, in one of the more recent terminologies, to developed in different human populations and “formal equivalence”; and paraphrase, to continuously evolves with the culture of its l Success is attained when ALL “dynamic equivalence”. 1 speakers. Any effective communication must be parties involved have the SAME The traditional Oxford definition of trans - targeted to the reader’s culture to be effective. understanding of what has been lation as “the process of translating words or text This means that you have to know your readers’ communicated from one language into another” 2 has been culture. extended to “translation is the communication of The word “culture” derives from the Latin 40 | December 2020 Medical Writing | Volume 29 Number 4 Rossi – Translation: A transcultural activity must remain im personal and objective. Known for any centrally authorised product, Annex II, communicate their contents in the different concepts are referenced to other texts, whereas Annex A, SmPC, labelling, or package leaflet, as target languages. new findings are presented as diagrams, charts, well as Annex IV and Annex 127a, if applicable, When translations are needed for clinical trial sketches, or illustrations expressing numerical be translated from the original English to all other documents (e.g., patient informed consent), the data. Ideally, the personality of the author does European language. Each translation undergoes ethics committee or institutional review board not need to emerge to emphasise the results, as a linguistic review by the member state, and the can request a back-translation. 15 In this case, a the results are far more important than their European Medicines Agency ensures that all comparison of the back-translation with the implications in clinical practice. comments have been implemented for each original text is used to check the accuracy of the We all know this is not the most attractive translated document before their final approval. 14 original translation, with the same rationale that style for the general reader. Some writing These reviews are performed by selected a mathematical operation is checked by reversing practices suggest “telling a story” when reference centres (so-called “contact points for the operation, although such back-translations describing a study and its results to make it most translations review”), which provide a qualitative are not always fully reliable 16 because, unlike attractive for the reader. 11 But when technical opinion on the quality of the translated version mathematical symbols, some words can be wording is maintained, the general reader is of each document (very good, good, acceptable, ambiguous. Thus, subjective evaluations seem generally not attracted by this text. Improving the unacceptable) and the nature of comments the preferred way to check the quality of reader’s health literacy to let them appreciate the (missing words or sentences; scientific incorrect translated clinical trial and health product-related text is a long and not always successful translations [e.g., terminology]; inaccuracies documents. option: 12,13 when translating a text for the [incorrect translations – including spelling, general reader, the translator needs to adapt to punctuation, grammatical mistakes]; and Cultural translations their thinking and language level. editorial, stylistic changes [e.g., rephrasing]). Why are literal translations dangerous? Although the timelines and roles are well It is impossible to provide effective communi - The legal and regulatory requests established, no guidance is provided on how to cation in a target language using word-for-word The European Medicines Agency requests that ensure that the translated documents correctly translation. This is one of the reasons why www.emwa.org Volume 29 Number 4 | Medical Writing December 2020 | 41 Translation: A transcultural activity – Rossi machine translation, where a computer program perfect Italian, it is un acceptable for any Italian version of translation because it provides more analyses a source text and produces a target text because Italians do not have a “little friend”. than simple word-to-word conversion. without human intervention, is not yet a reliable Italian men are Latin lovers, so even if a virgin, 95 Cultural translation also adds a consultancy and professional option. A growing number of years old, or a chaste Catholic priest, our dimension to translation. It is a deeper version of software options are available on the internet