A COMPARATIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE MEDICAL TRANSLATION PERFORMANCE OF SPECIALIZED TRANSLATORS AND GENERAL TRANSLATORS IN SRI LANK

Abstract

Medical Translation is considered one of the most salient segments in the field of translation. Although the Medical Officers serving the patients takes the centre stage, this discipline does involve a large number of documentation. However, as this particular concept of specialized translation barely exists in Sri Lanka, the majority of the translations pertaining to the field of medicine are carried out by general translators who are likely to commit more errors in comparison to the specialized translators, yet this particular matter is paid less attention. Therefore this study drew a comparison between the medical translation performance of general translators and specialized translators in Sri Lanka with the intention of investigating the effect they could have on the quality of the medical translation. In order to determine the performance of specialized translators and general translators in this very discipline, a case study was put in place, and it was discovered that specialized translators make a significant improvement on the time consumed, content, and completeness in contrast to general translators despite the grammar accuracy not indicating any major deviation. Hence, the research has provided enough evidence to suggest that specialized translators have a clear influence in improving a medical translation when compared to general translators. Eventually, this study has presented facts to conclude that specialized translators are a better choice in contrast to general translators in the field of medical translation.