The ABCs of Medical Translation

The ABCs of Medical Translation

A Conversation with Erin Lyons

The translation of medical documents is a highly complex, demanding, and regulated endeavor. Medical translators must have excellent knowledge of their working language pairs and should continuously cultivate an in-depth understanding of the cultural differences of various countries. They must also achieve mastery of medical terms and their meaning, and must possess first-rate writing skills in their working languages. Medical translators must have strong research, analysis, and reading skills and a profound knowledge of the range of medical terminology for translators and medical concepts. In addition, medical translators must be able to access appropriate reference materials and resources. Finally, they must fully understand the ethical issues and key concerns of health care. Erin Lyons will speak on the basics of medical translation, in an interactive presentation designed for non-experts. She will share some of the challenges she has faced, and will incorporate examples from several languages.

Free and open to the public. This event is organized by Joan Munné and Melissa Simmermeyer, Senior Lecturers in the Department of Romance Studies, and has been made possible with the support of the Forum for Scholars and Publics, the Mary D.B.T. and J.H. Semans International Exchange Fund, the Trinity Language Committee, Duke Service-Learning, the Spanish Language Program, Romance Studies, Health Humanities Lab, and the Duke University Center for International Global Studies. Visit sites.duke.edu/advancedspanishtranslation for more information.