Every field or world we enter is divided into a different set of sections, and the translation field is one of them. From a distance, we assume that there is only one type of translation, but as we get closer, our vision clears, and we see that there are several types of translation; everyone is used exclusively to translate a specific field. So let’s begin our journey today to learn more about one of the types of translation, which is scientific translation.
What is the scientific translation?
The process of translating academic, scientific, and technical material from one language to another is known as scientific translation. A solid understanding of the terms and concepts used in the scientific documents that are being translated is crucial because particular fields require very precise translation. The translation seeks to publish all of these fields’ documents and make them widely accessible so that people of various cultures can benefit from them.
the importance of scientific translation
There are numerous reasons why scientific translation is important, and the following are among the most important ones:
- Reduce the knowledge gap
Scientific translation helps to reduce the knowledge gap that may occur due to the difference in languages. When the translation is done, everyone can understand the old information that is related to a particular topic and link it with the new information that has been accessed on this topic.
Some polls have confirmed how difficult it is to access outdated information that belongs to some fields, which caused a knowledge gap, but with the presence of scientific translation, this problem was solved.
- Get new perspectives
When scholars are searching for a particular topic, scientific translation allows them to view it from various languages and cultural perspectives. This helps them gain fresh insights into the topic and ultimately leads to better research and new opportunities.
- Easy access to information
Scientific translation allows everyone to access all the different topics and articles in multiple languages, which means that it helps them a lot in getting the information they are looking for, regardless of the language of the information.
- extending the impact of scientific investigation
Scientific translation facilitates easy access to books and scientific materials for researchers doing scientific studies. This enables researchers to work efficiently because they have access to numerous reliable research papers on the subject.
scientific translation techniques
The translation of scientific documents is the basis of the scientific translation process, which requires experience in scientific fields and in-depth knowledge of both the original and desired languages. The translation process is not done by chance; rather, it follows certain guidelines that a qualified translator must follow. Among these methods, the following are the most popular:
- conciseness and clarity in the translation
Accurately transferring meaning and maintaining clarity during translation are fundamental strategies in scientific translation. As such, the translator has to carefully decide if words and phrases have the same meaning in the original language as they do in the desired language.
It should be noted that this is not a straightforward or easy task; to translate words into another language without changing their meaning, he needs a translator with extensive training, a scientific background in the relevant field, and familiarity with the various terminologies in both languages.
- Dealing with content problems
The translator can come across mistakes in the source text that he is translating, but how will he have the capacity to recognize these mistakes if he needs more training in both science and the target society in general?
Because every mistake in the source material may result in further translation errors, the professional translator needs to have this background to fix these issues.
- Rephrasing without affecting its meaning
When translating from one language to another, we find that grammatical features and linguistic characteristics can differ due to the rules of each language. As a result, the translator might reformulate the text during translation strongly and effectively, which helps communicate the meaning of the text without influencing or changing its meaning.
Additionally, this helps the translator by allowing them to connect the topic’s phrases in a natural way that is wholly appropriate for the target language.
- Reading regularly
The translator should use this technique and read a lot of books, research papers, and academic and scientific articles to ensure that the translation is accurate and error-free. Regular study and examination of scientific research also help to make the scientific translation easier, not just accurate.
- Pay attention to terminology, symbols, and numbers.
Numbers, symbols, terms, and graphs are all common in scientific research and academic articles. These elements are significant and must be taken into account when translating the text; otherwise, the translator could miss or transfer one of these elements incorrectly, leading to a significant change in the text.
- After translation, go over the text again
The translator must carefully and accurately review the translated scientific text after finishing it. Once this step is done, he must have another qualified translator with experience in this field review it once more to ensure that every mistake in the translation has been caught.
challenges of scientific translation
Translators have several challenges when translating scientific works; these are the most famous among them:
- The presence of some complex terms in the source language, which are difficult to translate into the target language.
- The translator must have extensive scientific experience in scientific fields in general, especially on the subject he is translating, and be familiar with all the different terms in both languages.
- Maintain the structure of the topic while translating it into the target language; scientific articles often have a strict and boring language, and therefore the translator during their translation must convey them coherently with each other.
steps of scientific translation
The process of translating science is not random or usual; rather, it is structured and follows a series of processes that must be followed precisely to guarantee appropriate translation:
1- Initial investigation before translation
Before beginning the translation of a text or scientific study, the translator must thoroughly investigate the research topic and terms that are unique to the target language as well as the source language. He must also have proper knowledge of the subject and the translation field.
2- examining the written material
The translator needs to read the text several times after conducting his research and before beginning to translate it to fully grasp its meaning and terminology. This will assist him in maintaining the text’s concepts and meaning while he translates.
3- the text’s translation
The translation process starts here as the translator goes over the text again, making sure he understands all of the terms, symbols, and numbers. If he is unsure about a term, he has to look it up in a dictionary for the language in which it is written.
Subsequently, the translator initiates the translation process, translates the text into the target language, and reliably and correctly interprets these terms, numbers, and symbols into this language.
4- Examine the translation
Following the review process, this step focuses on the style, ensuring that the sentences make sense and are connected, preserving the meaning of the translated text, and accurately translating terms, numbers, symbols, and their meanings in the target language.
5- Linguistic and grammar validation of the text
This step is crucial because it ensures that the text is written correctly after translation and checks for grammatical or linguistic errors. If you find any of these errors, you should fix them right away because breaking a rule or writing a word incorrectly can change the meaning of the word, sentence, and text as a whole.
6- Verify the accuracy of the translation
This stage assures the quality of the translation process and ensures that it is completed accurately while preserving the topic’s structure, translating a portion of it into the target language, and writing it in a coordinated and orderly fashion.
7- final review before delivery
Finally, the important step is the final revision of the text; it includes making sure that there are no scientific, linguistic, or grammatical errors in the text after translation and making sure that its terms and meanings are translated accurately and properly. After the translator has done this step, he must use another translator specializing in this field to review the text again to ensure the accuracy, correctness, and quality of the text.
the skills a scientific translator should have
When translating scientific material, a translator needs to have a few specific talents, the most important of which are as follows:
- profound understanding and extensive expertise in the translation field
To ensure accurate and thorough translation, the translator needs to possess in-depth knowledge and substantial experience in the subject matter.
- Master the source and target translation language
The translator must master the source language so that he can pay attention to the terms and the meaning of the text before translation, as well as master the target language and be familiar with all its different meanings; this allows him to convert the text easily and translate the words in an identical way that preserves the meaning of the text.
- Translate in a concise and orderly manner while preserving the meaning of the text
During the translation process, the translator must shorten and not add words that are useless to them; therefore, he has to write the text again in the target language in an organized abbreviated form while preserving the meaning of the text and transferring it as it is.
How could fast-trans translation help you with scientific translation?
A lot of people mistakenly believe that anyone can translate scientific material accurately and properly. At Fast-trans, we are committed to providing you with the best professional translators with extensive experience in scientific fields, so you can be sure that the translation you receive is accurate and of the highest caliber.
Additionally, we assist you with translation through a variety of methods that set us apart from other professionals in this sector, the most notable of which are:
- We provide multilingual scientific translation services.
- Our translators have scientific experience that enables them to translate texts accurately and correctly.
- The process of reviewing our texts is carried out by experts specializing in scientific fields.
- We offer competitive translation rates and premium packages.
- You get a high-quality scientific translation.
In the end, if you are looking for a translator who provides you with scientific translation services accurately and correctly, fast-trans is the best place to help you in this and guarantees you a high-quality and accurate translation. As we have explained to you, this translation does not need an ordinary translator; you need a professional and experienced translator in the scientific field, such as fast-trans translators.
