Localization Vs Translation in Life Sciences: Understanding the Difference

Localization Vs Translation: The Difference Explained

Translation refers to conveying messages from one language into another in a linguistically and grammatically correct manner. 

Localization includes the relevant additional features, adapting the translated piece of text to a narrower group of people. As the name itself tells us, the text is localized when it addresses a certain local audience. 

In the context of life sciences content localization, different markets may require different localizations, for pure linguistic or legal purposes.

Localization Vs Translation in Life Sciences

Life sciences translation and localization services make a difference for the providers of medical services and patients. If translators haven’t translated the content in question properly, the localization part will lack the necessary quality. 

Also, the translation company might have to deal with the same language in different versions.

For instance, if we translate a guide on certain medicines from English into Spanish, the end product for Spain may differ from the one prepared for Mexico. Spain is an independent country and an EU member, so the life sciences translation services might require a two-fold adaptation for this country. 

Mexico, on the other hand, is an independent country, but it’s also a member of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on free trade. The latter brings some legal translation specifics that Spain doesn’t have. 

Life Science Localization in Practice

When we’re talking about translation vs localization in life sciences, we need to be precise about the terms. A medical translation and localization may include medical software, instructions for use (IFU) for medical devices, user manuals, doctor manuals, and other aspects of medical content. 

A pharmaceutical translation and/or localization may refer to patient information leaflets (PILs), summaries of product characteristics (SPC), medical labels, etc. 

Translating and localizing clinical research materials includes informed consent forms (ICF), patient-reported outcomes (PRO), questionnaires, study protocols, and communication with local regulations, among other things. 

When handling these niches of life sciences content localization, translators and localizers must take into account domestic units of measure and conventions, local compliance, and established medical practice. They also need to meet the established expectations, jargon, and warnings. 

Also, the providers of life sciences localization services have to bear in mind that in-field medical workers and hospital staff typically work under a lot of stress. Working in an emergency unit or being a nurse/surgeon in an operating room leaves no room for ambiguity. That’s why accuracy and compliance are the pillars of Ciklopea’s policy on life sciences localization services.

Who Are Life Sciences Language Services For?

The target audience of life sciences translation and localization services may differ. For instance, adapting instructions for patients in clinical treatments is different from translating or localizing text for healthcare professionals. If a patient receives complicated and unlocalized instructions, they might feel more uncomfortable, which can additionally affect their medical condition. 

A user manual for doctors has to meet the knowledge level they possess and the activities they carry out in their daily tasks at work. To use the example from above, translating a doctor’s manual on medicines from US English into Mexican Spanish would require localizing the measure units, i.e., adapting imperial measures to metric measures. 

An international guidebook for hospital management demands a completely different approach. As such content usually contains regulatory and compliance-related details, language service providers are obliged to meet the standards expected at that level. They often have to properly explain and cover international standards, such as the ISO 13485.

Life Sciences Localization Vs Transcreation

In the translation vs localization comparison, it’s important to explain whether transcreation is applicable to life sciences. In most cases, transcreation isn’t part of the translation process in life sciences. 

Localization and translation predominantly revolve around adapting semantic items from one language into another. Transcreation includes a higher level of creativity in the message-conveying process. It’s used to transfer the tone, style, and purpose of the original text to an international audience. As such, transcreation is more commonly used for marketing, advertising, and branding translation services, rather than technical and medical translation. 

Since life sciences localization services are more focused on accuracy and compliance, i.e., drier but more precise communication, transcreation is generally avoided. Still, it can be used when it’s necessary to create more detailed or more vivid instructions for patients. 

ISO Standards and Life Science Language Services

Every company operating in an international business environment needs to meet certain ISO standards. The providers of life science and language services are no exception. For starters, it’s important to answer one pillar question: what is ISO 13485, because this is one of the key standards in life sciences. 

The ISO 13485 is an international standard for manufacturers of medical devices. It’s a rulebook with various rules and requirements that such entities need to follow in order to produce internationally verifiable medical devices. It prescribes the production, installation, maintenance, and proper, safe design of medical devices. 

Compliance with ISO 13485 is formal proof that a localization and translation service provider has implemented strict legal regulations. In turn, it demonstrates that the service provider in question is capable of delivering accurate and consistent translation. Since errors in the life sciences industry can have fatal outcomes, every organization operating in this field must meet stricter requirements than what might be the case in some other industries. 

ISO 27001 is another important standard for every business. It defines how the Information Security Management System within an organization should function, in order to ensure it’s a secure and compliant entity. A localization and translation service provider is not a high-risk business. However, translating and localizing content for clients from healthcare and pharmaceutical industry includes exposure to content that requires special legal compliance. 

ISO 18587 is another crucial standard for translation and localization companies. It contains guidelines and features required for post-editing of machine-translated content. In the life sciences industries, post-editing plays a vital role because of the life-sensitive content that such niches include. 

The Future of Translation vs Localization in Life Sciences

The number of people in the world will keep growing steadily in the time ahead, meaning that more people will need medical services. Apart from urgent interventions, every person needs routine medical care. There will be more medical devices and more medical content to cover in the time ahead. Providers of translation and localization services have to be aware of these processes to keep pace with the market. This is what every client needs to know when comparing translation vs localization in life sciences. 

Ciklopea is fully invested in knowledge and professionals who ensure top-tier localization and translation services. Get in touch with us, and we’ll work together to create a tailor-made offer for life sciences translation and localization services.