In English, the term drug is used as a synonym for medicine. In many countries, this is not the case.
Some countries, such as Switzerland, distinguish between drugs and medicines:
- Drugs are illegal substances whose production, possession and consumption are prohibited. Drugs are consumed as intoxicants to alter consciousness, influence emotions, etc.
- Medicines are legal substances that are administered to alleviate a condition. Often a medicine consists of a drug and an excipient. Medicines are used specifically to treat diseases and ailments.
What should the translator do?
In addition to the FSN, existing synonyms should also be included in the translation. These variants help to better understand the meaning of the concept. If the further English synonyms of the FSN are not sufficient to understand the meaning of the concept, the concept can be considered in the hierarchy of SNOMED CT. The relationships to other concepts should help to ensure the meaning of the concept and to find the most appropriate translation.
If there is no clear translation or the meaning of the concept is unclear, it is strongly recommended that the translator reports this to the project manager, who should find a solution that takes into account terminological and linguistic aspects.
Which translation strategies could be adopted?
Strategy | Detail |
4. Term-based Translation | The translators should check the meaning of the term using the FSN and synonyms. The meaning should be translated accordingly. If the structure and the English synonyms do not allow a clear allocation/definition of the concept, it should be translated in such a way that the different meanings are covered. The project owner should decide which or if both variants should be included. In the example of medicine vs. drug, both variants should be represented in the synonyms, or at least they should not be mutually exclusive. In addition to the FSN, other synonyms for the term should be used in the translation. These variations help to better understand the meaning of the concept. If this is not sufficient, the concept can be considered in the hierarchy of SNOMED CT. The relationships to other concepts should help to secure the meaning of the concept and to find the most appropriate translation. |
Proposal/Outcome
The meaning of the concept should be translated. The English term need not be used as a strict template. The translation should be chosen so that the meaning of the concept is best understood.
In the case of the German translation, the term Arzneimittel was chosen for drug. It is closer to the English term pharmaceuticals. For the same reason, the synonym Wirkstoff was chosen, which can be translated as active ingredient.
English |
| German |
Drug or medicament
|
| Arzneimittel oder Medikament |
Drug |
| Wirkstoff |