A Study Of Concise English Translation Of Commonly Used Diagnostic Terms In TCM Outpatient Dialogues

In countries where English is the first language,large scale campaigns to simplify the use of the language has taken place early,and has had wide ranging impacts on the language itself,especially in legal English.Even though researchers continue to disagree about the effectiveness of such campaigns,the fact remains that positive results have been achieved.The use of plain,simple English in appropriate contexts can provide better clarity and be effectively persuasive to readers.Such `Plain English’ campaigns are important,necessary and beneficial both to individuals and society at-large.English used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)context is still a relatively new academic subject.While there is some research in ’plain TCM English’,there are conducted rather generically and broadly.Undoubtedly,there are prospects of more in-depth research that can be conducted in this area.PurposesTCM Diagnostics is an academic subject under the broader subject of Basic TCM Theory.The translations of technical terms relating to TCM diagnostics remains problematic,and lacks systemic research and organisation.This study seeks to develop a set of simplified English translations of TCM terms by:1)Analysing the substantive meanings of TCM diagnostic terms;2)Performing comparative analysis for the English translations of these terms from eight authoritative versions of English translations for TCM diagnostic terms;and3)Comparing the English translations of TCM diagnostic terms with the translation approaches used by government healthcare web portals in the United Kingdom and United States to simplify TCM diagnosis for general understanding.Methods1)Documents Analysis Method(DCA)The Documents Analysis Method gathers research information and translation theory on simplifying the terms used in TCM English from university libraries,national libraries,local and international databases and academic publication.The DCA approach seeks to understand the current state of simplifying English translations of TCM diagnostics and problems with existing research;analyse and compare various versions of English translations for these terms to develop the precise translation methodology;and analyse existing journal articles to understand the current state of research in this area with a view to exploring and filling in existing research gaps.2)Comparative Research Method(CRM)The study chooses 64 Chinese TCM diagnostic terms in Clinic terminology of traditional Chinese medical diagnosis and treatment Diseases:National Standard of People’s Republic of China,and corresponding English translation of TCM diagnostic terms in the following versions:Classified dictionary of traditional Chinese medicine,Chinese terms in traditional Chinese medicine,A Comprehensive Chinese-English Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine,WHO International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific Region,A practical dictionary of Chinese medicine,Compendious Chinese-English Dictionary of Chinese Medicine und Pharmacy,Chinese English-English Chinese Word-formation of English Medical Terminology,as standardized research objects;and references the simplified health and medical information meant for consumption by the general public published by National Institutes of Health in United States(https://medlineplus.gov),National Health Service in United Kingdom(https://www.nhs.uk)as comparative research objects.Comparative analysis,with simplification as a guiding principle,is then conducted on eight versions of English translations of TCM diagnostic terms,using relevant Chinese and English-Chinese dictionaries.3)Inductive Reasoning The research then seeks to develop the methodologies and approaches for simplified English translations of TCM diagnostic terms through the study and analysis of the eight versions of translations and the government healthcare web portals.The developed methods and approaches can then provide theoretical basis and practical reference in setting international standards for TCM terms’English translations.ResultsThis research has uncovered several inadequacies in existing English translations of TCM diagnostics such as differing standards in English translations of TCM terms;majority of translations uses formal and professional language only appropriate for written communications;minsinterpretations of the intended meaning of the original TCM term resulting in deviations in translated meanings;and majority of translations are too lengthy and complicated to apply in conversations with patients.ConclusionsSeveral conclusions can be drawn from this study.First,simplified English translations of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)diagnostic terms must priorities semantic accuracy.Analysis of the intended meanings of the terms is essential to facilitating communications and understanding by readers from Western countries.Second,as translations of TCM are still in the developmental stage,written communications is the main form of exchange in TCM translations.Translations tended to use formal terms,with well-organized sentence structures、textual cohesion compact.As there are discrepancies in translations,written translations in English versions of TCM is almost the only form of learning and understand TCM in the language.Third,as TCM is a medical system specific to the Chinese and exudes strong cultural elements,English translations of TCM should refer to Western medical word-formation translation as the ideal translation approach in order for TCM to be accepted universally.Fourth,there is room for improvement in the foreign language competency of native TCM practitioners.Due to the limited professional competences of TCM professionals worldwide,simplified English TCM translations can benefit translators by facilitating communication.These translations also help TCM practitioners to gain proficiency in TCM English better and more easily.Fifth,the science of TCM term translation is very important.The standard translation format must include accurate semantics,simple structure and align to English morphology.The applied morpheme must pre-exist in the translated language.Not only must it fulfill the structural mechanism of modern technical terms,it must also refer to the English morphology logic strictly.Sixth,to develop the English translation methodology and approaches through comprehensive analysis of common diagnostic terms used in conversations during diagnosis,and to apply in English translations of TCM terms generically.