Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

Interventional Compensation in Elderly-Oriented Medical Translation: Revised Functional Equivalence Theory in English-Chinese Practice

Xinrong ZhaoSchool of Foreign Studies, Nankai University, Tianjin, China*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

Linguistic precision and cultural appropriateness are crucial in the translation of medical texts, particularly as globalization drives the dissemination of health information across diverse populations. This study investigates the major challenges and strategies involved in Chinese-English medical translation, with a specific focus on terminology, syntax, and the interplay between linguistic and cultural factors. Drawing on a corpus of translated medical texts, the research combines qualitative analysis with comparative translation evaluation to identify recurrent issues and effective solutions. The findings reveal that mistranslations often arise from lexical ambiguity, syntactic divergence, and insufficient cultural contextualization. Moreover, the translator’s subject-matter expertise and familiarity with target language conventions significantly impact translation quality. The study proposes a multi-dimensional approach integrating terminology standardization, functional equivalence, and genre-based strategies to enhance accuracy and readability in medical translation. These insights contribute to improving translation training and professional practice in the field of medical discourse. The implications of this study are particularly relevant for translation educators, practitioners, and policy-makers involved in health communication.

Keywords: Patient Information Leaflet Translation; Elderly Patients; Cultural Equivalence; Health Literacy
Published: June 20, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.24168
Volume: CHR Vol.60
pp. 222-232
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