Tips to Ensure High-Quality Translation of Scientific Articles

​When translating a scientific article, be it from scratch or machine translation post-editing, it’s important to establish a process that you can follow each time. This will make your time and project management more efficient and result in a high-quality end product. If you need tips to do so or if you just wonder what goes into the process, please continue reading.

Specialized translators enjoy certain document types

First, I'd like to say that, in my opinion, it's important that you enjoy the work you're doing. Not just translation, but any hobbies, sports, other businesses you operate, etc. Therefore, I recommend that specialized translators pay attention to which specific document types bore the living hell out of them and which ones engage their attention, thus allowing them to enjoy the process.

As you can guess, scientific articles are the ones I enjoy the most (as opposed to hospital discharge reports, lab work, SAE reports, imaging reports, etc.). For the reasons below, I find myself quickly absorbed in the work and satisfied with the process from start to finish. Try to make a similar list, in your head or on paper, of what you enjoy about different documents, then you can seek more of that kind of work.

Reasons I enjoy scientific articles

1. I ALWAYS learn something new. It could be a rating system for a disease or even a disorder I’ve never heard of before.
2. Articles are presented in a format that flows, like a story. I can see where the “story” is going and what it’s building on. Thus, I can ensure that my translation flows smoothly, too.
3. I can find published works to support my translation of terms and concepts. For example, the mechanism of action of a drug is usually clearly explained in numerous resources online. (This also helps me explain my choices to clients.)

Pay attention to these 3 features of scientific articles 

Every document type has its own challenges and unique features. You must understand these in order to develop an efficient translation process that results in a high-quality product.

For scientific articles, paying close attention to these 3 key features in the source file will help ensure that is the case.

1. Specialized terminology and concepts

​Scientific articles contain highly specialized terminology and concepts. These may not have direct equivalents in the target language (thus requiring an explanation instead of a brief term) or may not have a word-for-word translation. It's important to identify and understand these terms in the source text either before you start translating or as you go. Look for technical jargon, scientific notations, abbreviations, and acronyms. Research any terms that are unfamiliar or unique to the field to ensure accurate translation. Maintaining consistency in translating these terms throughout the document is also important. So, if you do this step as you go, be sure to go back regularly and check if you’re consistently using the same translation for the same phrase in the source language.

2. Citations and references

​Scientific articles rely on citations and references to support the research and establish credibility. Pay close attention to the source file's citations and references to see if any need to be translated. Check for proper formatting, citation styles (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago), and ensure that all cited sources are correctly linked to their corresponding references. You can also skim over the references before starting your translation (and after if you like) to search for overlapping terms from the article. As I specified in my list above, these references can be great support for maintaining the integrity of your translation.

3. Figures and tables

Scientific articles often include figures and tables to present data and results. When translating these elements, it's crucial to ensure that the meaning and numerical values are accurately conveyed. Check for labels, captions, units of measurement, etc. Ensure that the translated figures and tables are consistent with the original in terms of layout and formatting. Also, check that any mentions of these figures and tables in the body of the article are consistent with the information in the actual figures and tables. Sometimes, the authors make mistakes and put the incorrect percentage, unit, etc. This is an opportunity to use the notation [sic] and point out the error to the client, thus showing that you’re paying close attention to the project.

Of course, in addition to the above, it's essential to consider the overall structure, style, and formatting of the source file to maintain consistency in the translation. By carefully examining and addressing all of these features in the source file, you can produce a translation that accurately conveys the scientific content while adhering to the standards and conventions of the target language and audience. In other words, a high-quality translation that you and your client will both be satisfied with.