A Linguistic Study of Translation in Legal and Medical Contexts: Challenges, Ethics and the Role of Technology

Abstract

Some of the most demanding and high-stakes areas in language services are legal and medical translation. Malpractice in these areas may lead to severe repercussions such as misinterpretation of the law, wrongful convictions, or medical malpractice. In this paper, the author examines the complex issues encountered by translators in the fields of law and medicine and discusses them within the framework of linguistic, cultural, ethical, and procedural challenges. Based on actual case studies, scholarly research, and recorded cases of translation failures, it strongly underscores the critical role of accuracy, expertise in a subject area, and ethical conduct. The paper also assesses the role of technology, including machine translation (MT) and computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, and provides recommendations on how to enhance the quality of translation, accountability, and professional responsibility in such specialized areas.