The Ins and Outs of Editing and Revising Medical Translations from a Bilingual Medical Communicator
Translation is an integral part of the global health care industry, and accurate and high-quality translations can mean the difference between approval and rejection for your new product or clinical trial application.
Over the years as a bilingual Chinese medical communicator, I have the privilege to check other professionals’ translations as Team Lead in my business ( Acurit Medical Communications Pty Ltd ); and from a client side, previously in corporate, and now blending into a client’s internal team. I understand the importance of precise translations, and want to share with you what happens behind the scenes when it comes to editing and revising translations.
Editing and Revising Translations: The Translator’s Perspective
When it comes to delivering a translation to a client, our main goal is to ensure that they receive the highest possible quality translation. We aim to do translations right the first time, and no back-and-forth revisions are needed.?This means that as Team Lead, I perform a thorough quality check as a last step on the translation before it's delivered to the client. Towards this aim, my edits are more vigorous, keeping clients in mind. During the quality check, I pay special attention to:
?Sentence Structure, Readability, Flow, and Consistency
Our goal is to make sure that the translation is of high quality. I work with experienced and reliable translators as subcontractors. I ask for work in progress early on and if I notice a problem, I communicate with the translator to fix the issue or find a different translator if necessary.
?Medical Terminology
This is by far the most common edit that I make. To ensure accuracy, I use a combination of reference books, scientific publications, and communication with the client to verify medical terminology. I also ask the translator about their choice of terminology to ensure that it's accurate and appropriate.
?English to Chinese Punctuation Issues
Punctuation can be different in the two languages, so I pay attention to any punctuation errors that could indicate poor translation quality.
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Overall, it’s a vigorous process keeping in mind the translated file will be delivered to the client with top-notch quality.
Editing and Revising Translations: The Client’s Perspective
As a bilingual Chinese medical communicator, I have the privilege of receiving and checking translations from service providers for my clients.
Here's how I approach the editing and revision process:
Respect the Translator’s Choice
If the translation is accurate and the quality is good, I don't change it. If it's just a matter of style or word preference, then I respect the translator's choice.
Directly Make Changes as Necessary
If I notice minor issues that need to be addressed, I make the revisions myself to save time and ensure accuracy.
This highlights the importance of having high-quality translation to begin with. Once the translation is delivered to me, from the client side, even though I need to make minor changes, it’ll be quick and easy to make them myself.