It doesn't only mean the translators need to understand many technical terms such as 'endosmosis' and 'cytophagy'. It also requires translators have to know the meaning of multivocal words in a certain context.
Once a Singapore company engaged a translation agency to translate a brochure for its life science conference to attract Chinese companies to attend. The price was relative cheaper among three providers. At the return of the translation, the manage who has Chinese background found that 'cell culture' was translated into 细胞文化.'Cell culture media' was translated into 细胞文化媒体.
The word 'culture' alone in a general context can mean' An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning'(文化).'Media' in communication domain may refer to newspaper, TV, radio. (媒体)
Apparently the translation was done in word by word translation. If the translator knew about the knowledge in biology, where 'culture media' means 'A liquid or gelatinous substance containing nutrients in which microorganisms or tissues are cultivated for scientific purposes', those mistakes could be avoided.
The correct translation should be
cell culture-细胞培养
cell culture media-细胞培养基.
A wrong translation will harm the conference organizing company's professional image in China when it delivers nonsense Chinese materials to the public. Luckily this company has a manage who can understand Chinese in depth in the field and was saved from the embarrassment.
What if you don't have any expert in Chinese? You may follow these steps:
1: Find a renown technical translation agency
2: Request for sample translations from a few agency to cross check.
3: Check with reference
SMART Translation--Your technical translation partner
http://www.1smarttranslation.com/
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