Technical translations into Arabic: how to ensure accuracy and consistency

If your company or firm works with partners, customers or suppliers located in the Arab world, technical translations into Arabic are crucial for the success of your communications. From legal contracts to product data sheets, from financial documents to medical texts, each sector has its own terminology that must be respected to avoid misunderstandings or costly errors. We have already discussed the peculiarities of translations into Arabic and the differences between Modern Standard Arabic and local variants. In this article, we will explore how to ensure accuracy and consistency in technical translations into Arabic.

Specific terminology in the legal, medical, technical and financial sectors

Each sector has its own technical language, and an inaccurate translation may compromise the clarity of the message. It is important to note that accounting and legal systems can differ from one Arab country to another as well as from the systems applied in Europe or the United States. The same goes for corporate organizational charts and titles, which differ from one country to another and between the public and private sectors. Let’s look at some examples:

Legal sector

Contracts, notarial deeds, rulings and regulations must be translated accurately to avoid ambiguity and legal problems. The term ‘force majeure’, for example, can be translated in different ways depending on the legal context.

Medical sector

Reports, medical records and pharmaceutical documentation must be translated with extreme accuracy to guarantee patient safety and effective treatment. A mistake in the translation of a medical term could have serious consequences.

Technical sector

User manuals, technical data sheets and patents require consistent terminology to ensure the correct use of products and the protection of intellectual property. For example, the term ‘gear’ may have different translations depending on the type of gear and context. Without knowing the context, it is practically impossible to translate the term correctly.

Financial sector

Financial statements, audit reports and banking documents must be translated using consistent terminology to avoid misunderstandings that could compromise economic transactions. For a correct translation, the translator must be familiar with the specific topic and terminology in question.

A practical case: customs delays

An improper translation can sometimes be costly. The product ‘sunflower oil’ is translated into standard Arabic as ‘زيت دوار الشمس’, while in Egypt the local term ‘زيت عباد الشمس’ is preferred. If the latter version is used on a product exported to one of the Gulf countries, it is highly likely that the goods will be held up at customs. This will result in increased costs for the customer because they will have to pay for every hour of stop at the custom-house. Isn’t it wiser to spend a few cents more for a job well done?

Tools and strategies for terminological consistency

Professional translators use several tools and strategies to guarantee consistency and accuracy in technical translations into Arabic:

1. Sector-specific glossaries: Creating and updating a glossary of terms for each customer or sector helps to ensure the use of consistent terminology.
2. Translation memories (TM): Computer-assisted translation tools (CAT tools) allow the translator to reuse previous translations and ensure terminological consistency.
3. Proofreading and quality control: A proofreading process by a second specialised linguist ensures that there are no mistakes or inconsistencies.
4. Consultation with experts: In some cases, it is useful to involve sector specialists to verify the correctness of the terminology. Experts will also be able to suggest whether to use the standard variant (Modern Standard Arabic) or the local variant >> learn more about this by reading our article

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Technical translations into Arabic imply specific difficulties and that’s why they must be made by professional translators. For accurate and reliable translations into Arabic, call us on +39 0543 23916 or fill in the form