Legal and Medical Translation Flashcards

What is a 'translator's note' in a legal document, and when is it appropriate?

Answer: A bracketed clarification explaining an untranslatable term or ambiguity in the source

Translator's notes clarify untranslatable terms, source ambiguities, or terminology decisions without altering the translated text itself.

What does ISO 17100 specify in relation to translation services?

Answer: Requirements for translation service providers, including translator qualifications and process standards

ISO 17100 defines requirements for the processes, resources, and skills of translation service providers to deliver quality translations.

Why is 'informed consent' document translation particularly high-stakes in clinical trials?

Answer: Participants must fully understand risks and procedures in their own language to give legally valid consent

Participants cannot give truly informed consent if they do not understand the risks, procedures, and alternatives described in their language.

What is 'terminological consistency' and why is it essential in legal translation?

Answer: Using the same translated term for the same legal concept throughout a document or project

Terminological consistency ensures that the same legal concept is referred to by the same term throughout, preventing ambiguity and contradictions.

What does a legal translator do when the source document contains a cross-reference to a specific law or statute?

Answer: Translate the reference accurately and note whether an equivalent law exists in the target jurisdiction if relevant

Cross-references to statutes should be translated accurately, and translators may add a note if a target-jurisdiction equivalent is relevant for clarity.

Which challenge is unique to translating pharmaceutical package inserts?

Answer: They require precise translation of dosage instructions, contraindications, and side effects across regulatory standards

Package insert translation must be clinically accurate and comply with regulatory requirements in each target market, as errors risk patient safety.