Choosing a specialist translator for your scientific area

Choosing a translator for a scientific text is no minor decision. In the international academic community, translation is an integral part of the research and publication process, especially when publishing in English, and has a direct impact on how results are evaluated, disseminated, and received.

Drawing on my experience as a scientific translator who regularly collaborates with researchers, research groups, and universities in Spain, this article sets out practical criteria for choosing a professional translator, clearly distinguishing them from generalists or automated solutions.

What sets a scientific translator apart from a generalist translator?

The key distinction isn't just about language proficiency, but about actual hands-on experience with academic texts and the publication process.

A specialist scientific translator:

• Works regularly with journal articles, book chapters, proposals, and other assessed academic texts.

• Is familiar with how the following work:

  • scientific journals.

  • peer review processes.

  • publishing criteria and disciplinary conventions.

• Knows how to adapt the text to meet international academic standards, rather than just general linguistic norms.

• Is aware that a poor translation can affect the clarity of the argument, terminology, and even the evaluation of the manuscript.

• Understands that translation is an integral part of the editorial process, not an isolated final step.

Even if they are linguistically competent, generalist translators often lack this structural familiarity with scientific communications.

Experience and specialisation required for each field

Not all disciplines pose the same translation challenges. Expertise in a specific field doesn't mean limiting oneself to a single area, but rather having experience of working with different discursive traditions.

Some obvious examples:

• An empirical article is not translated in the same way as a theoretical text.

• Social sciences, humanities subjects, and clinical or experimental disciplines each have:

  • distinct argumentative structures.

  • specific ways of using terminology.

  • their own rhetorical conventions.

For this reason, when choosing an academic translator, it’s worth considering:

• whether they have worked in areas related to your own, even if they're not identical.

• whether they demonstrate an understanding of the type of text (e.g. article, chapter, report, or proposal).

• whether they are able to critically read and understand the original text, rather than just translate it line by line.

In this context, specialisation is achieved through continuous practice and regular engagement with real research texts.

How to evaluate samples and previous work

In the field of scientific translation, the quality of a service is best assessed by looking at examples of published work rather than relying on generic descriptions of the service provided.

When choosing a specialist translator, it’s important to check:

• If they can provide links to articles or texts that have been previously published, preferably in academic journals or by scholarly publishers.

• If these samples of work demonstrate::

  • precise and consistent use of terminology.

  • appropriateness to the register of the specific discipline.

  • argumentative clarity in the target language.

• If there is a proven track record of collaboration with researchers, university departments, or research groups.

It's equally important that the translator adheres to strict confidentiality protocols and only uses examples from already published works, avoiding any reference to manuscripts under review or still in the evaluation phase.

Reviewing a portfolio of published works allows you to assess the translation in its real academic context.

Red flags when choosing a scientific translator

You should exercise extra caution if the translator:

• does not ask about the publication, audience, or publication context.

• fails to ask for terminological clarifications when the text requires them.

• treats an academic article as if it were a general informative or technical text.

• makes no mention of review or quality control processes.

• provides a quote based solely on word count, without first analysing the text or assessing its complexity.

These warning signs do not necessarily indicate that the translator is acting in bad faith, but rather a lack of specific experience in academic and scientific translation.

Benefits of working with a specialist translator long term

When a long-term relationship is established between the researcher and the translator, the benefits accrue over time.

The most important include:

• Terminological consistency is maintained across articles, projects, and lines of research.

• Greater speed without any loss of quality, thanks to prior knowledge of the field.

• Fewer corrections and adjustments during the editing stage.

• Gradual understanding built up of the researcher’s theoretical and methodological approach.

• Building a professional relationship based on trust, invaluable in evaluation and publication contexts.

For this reason, many researchers, departments, and research groups choose to regularly collaborate with the same academic translator, integrating them as a permanent member of the research team.

Choosing a specialist translator - in conclusion

When choosing a scientific translator specialising in academic texts, it is important to assess their experience, academic judgement, and knowledge of scientific publishing, as well as their language skills.

If you're looking for a specialist scientific translator with expertise in academic texts and a proven track record of collaborating with researchers and universities, please get in touch via email or the contact form on this website. I'd be delighted to take a look at your project and answer any questions you might have.