"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better"
This has been my main area of work for the past 10 years, and the major of my Master’s degree in translation. Not only do I feel extremely comfortable with medical terminology, but I am also very curious about the topic and keep myself up-to-date on various specialities by reading, researching, and gathering information for my own personal knowledge.
This is how I manage terminology consistency in my area of expertise
Research and reading are the keys. In the medical field particularly, it is essential to be well-documented and aware of the trends in order to maintain accurate, up-to-date terminolgy.
My professional methodology for a standard translation project is
First, I identify the audience. Who is this supposed to speak to? Second, I immerse myself into the text. At this stage, I leave my preconceptions on the side, and I try putting myself into the original writer’s shoes. Third, I synthesize. I try to combine what I learnt from reading the text and my personal reflexions along the way. This is when the real translation task begins.