Translating medical content requires far more than just linguistic proficiency; it necessitates a deep understanding of both medical terminology and cultural nuances. Professional translators offering German medical translation services are fluent in both the source and target languages, allowing them to accurately convey the message without losing its essence. Using the services of qualified translators is so important when conveying public health messages…as the Australian Government discovered.
2020 Coronavirus Public Health Message Branded “Nonsensical”
Coronavirus public health messages in Australia aimed at multicultural communities had translation errors, while one had even failed to differentiate between two different languages. One poster offering advice about wearing a face mask was so poorly formatted that the instruction didn’t make sense, and another mixed the instruction in two different languages using different alphabets.
The risk of course is that the overall health message is lost and public confidence is eroded. You can read the full story here.
NHS Guidelines For German Medical Translation Service Providers
The NHS has a strategy to try and ensure the best possible German medical translation service by following these guidelines:
- Assess Literacy and Language Proficiency: Determine if the German-speaking individual can read and understand health-related information in the original language before offering translated written materials.
- Provide Plain English Text for Translation into German: When translation is necessary, provide the translator with the original text in plain English to ensure accurate translation.
- Consider Audio-recorded German Spoken Interpretation: For individuals with difficulty reading their preferred language, consider providing information through audio-recorded spoken interpretation.
- Use Visual Content: Visual aids such as images and diagrams can be particularly helpful for individuals with low health literacy.
- Proofreading by Second German Translator: conduct a linguistic review of translated medical documents to ensure high quality, especially for materials intended for the general public.
- Back translation by second German Translator: translate the document from English into German and have the German document translated back into English to check accuracy.
By following these guidelines, healthcare providers can improve accessibility and understanding of health-related information for diverse populations.
We currently provide medical translation services in the German language for the NHS in Kent and West Sussex and for healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
As part of our overall linguistic service offering to the medical and healthcare sector, do head over to this related article covering our German transcription service for pharmaceutical research.
The importance of accuracy in translating key health messages into German cannot be overstated. From promoting understanding and trust to mitigating risks, accurate German medical translation services are essential for safeguarding public health and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their well-being. Here, you can read more about our German medical translation specialists and how we could help you.
