Academic translation of a scientific article is an important stage in preparing a paper for publication. The preservation of the meaning of the information presented and the editorial board’s further understanding of the material depend on its quality. This is particularly important because an accurate translation is one of the criteria used to evaluate the paper during peer review. In our article, we will examine what academic translation is and provide practical advice for carrying it out properly.
What is academic translation?
Academic translation is an accurate, scientifically sound translation of a scholarly work (a scientific article, book, monograph, etc.) that is distinguished by strict attention to specialised terminology, the subject matter of the research, citation style, etc. Academic translation is used when preparing scientific articles for international publications (Scopus, Web of Science), in Master’s and doctoral dissertations, conference abstracts, etc.
Key characteristics of academic translation:
- accuracy – academic translation must convey the meaning of the original as precisely as possible without distorting the author’s facts, ideas, and wording
- consistency of terminology – all scientific terms are translated uniformly throughout the entire text of the paper
- formal style of presentation – the text must be restrained, professional, and comply with the norms of academic writing without colloquial or emotional expressions
- logical coherence – the translation must preserve a clear sequence of ideas, arguments, and structure of presentation
- grammatical correctness – the text must be free from grammatical, syntactic, spelling, and punctuation errors
- compliance with journal requirements – the translation must take into account the linguistic, stylistic, and formal standards of the publication for which the text is being prepared
- inadmissibility of free paraphrasing – the content and presentation of the original text of the paper must be preserved
- absence of colloquial vocabulary – colloquial or informal words and expressions are not used in the translation
Advice for high-quality academic translation of a scientific article
For a high-quality academic translation of an article, it is important to follow several key aspects that will help prepare a paper that meets the requirements of an international publication. In particular, we have identified the following recommendations:
1. Preserve the content of the research
High-quality academic translation is impossible without accurately preserving the content of the research. Before beginning the translation, it is important to review the article once again and clearly determine how the logic of the text is structured. It is important to note that even if the text has been written by you, there are cases during the translation process when the author unconsciously simplifies the content of the research. That is why the translation should be carried out gradually, with full adherence to the content of the paper.
2. Maintain a scientific style
During the translation of the text of the paper, there is a risk of losing the scientific style of the research, as the author may have an unconscious desire to simplify the text of the paper or make it easier to understand. However, the translation of a scientific article must remain accurate and correspond to the scientific style of the original text. Do not use colloquial constructions, emotionally coloured words, literary devices, etc. in the paper, as this may significantly spoil the scientific style of the text.
3. Create unified terminology
In a scientific paper, it is important that the same term is not translated differently in different parts of the text. During the independent translation of a text, there are cases when some scholars may think that several variants of translating one term may be acceptable. However, for academic translation of a text, such variation may not always be appropriate. Before beginning the translation, determine exactly how specialised terms will be rendered and use these variants throughout the entire text of the paper.
4. Carefully proofread the translation of the paper
After the translation is completed, the paper cannot be considered fully ready without additional checking. Compare the text with the original to make sure that no important fragments have been omitted, important wording has not changed, and numbers, terms, titles of tables, figures, etc. have been rendered correctly. Final checking makes it possible to notice both linguistic mistakes and content inaccuracies that often remain unnoticed during the translation process itself. If you would like to receive a more accurate assessment of the quality of the translation, consult colleagues or translators you know. They will additionally proofread the paper and provide recommendations for improving the quality of the translation.
To summarise, high-quality academic translation ensures the accuracy and correctness of conveying the content of the research and also improves foreign audiences’ understanding of the text of the paper. It is important to treat this stage responsibly and, if necessary, draw on the experience of colleagues or professional translators.
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