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In:Translation Studies between Disciplines and Practices
Edited by Luc van Doorslaer and Yves Gambier
[Benjamins Translation Library 174] 2026
► pp. 353–372

Chapter 18
Translational medicine vis-à-vis medical translation

Starting a dialogue

 | Jaume I University
 | University of Oslo
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
Starting from the idea that translation concepts and practices have an untapped potential to bridge the gap between medicine and the social/human sciences (Ødemark and Engebretsen 2022), and recognising the need to reintroduce the human element that has been eroded in both medicine and translation (Montalt 2021), this chapter aims to initiate a dialogue between translational medicine and medical translation, playing on similarities and differences, and to discuss what the two can learn from each other. This comparative approach highlights areas of convergence and divergence, ultimately enabling us to advocate a broader, more interdisciplinary interpretation of translation that encompasses linguistic, cultural and ethical aspects, as well as knowledge circulation and implementation.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Translational medicine and knowledge translation
  • 3.Medical translation
  • 4.Gaps
    • 4.1Translation and the translator’s agency
    • 4.2Uncorrupted vs altered knowledge
    • 4.3Knowledge and evidence
    • 4.4Knowledge vs meaning
    • 4.5Monolingualism, and monologism vs. multilingualism and dialogism
    • 4.6Context and utterance
    • 4.7Global health
  • 5.Final remarks and further dialogue
  • Author queries
  • References
References (41)
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