A Functional Approach to Medical Translation: a Skopos Theory-based Study

This study investigates how skopos theory explores translation strategies in medical texts, focusingon the translator's role in ensuring coherence and effective communication of health information. From a functional perspective, a critical analysis is carried out on selected texts providedbyaU.S. health institution in charge of providing patients with healthcare information. The texts are originallypublished in the English language and translated into Arabic. The paper aims at assessingthetranslator’s fidelity and the impact of translation methods on the clarity of medical informationaddressed to laypeople who are not specialized in medical terminology and have limited knowledgein this field. The study concludes that intratextual and intertextual coherence can be achievedviaspecific translation strategies such as explicitation, addition and substitution while other strategies, such as literal translation may fail to convey medical information to the target audience. Thefindings highlight the translator's crucial role in ensuring that non-experts understandhealthinformation. Applying skopos theory prioritizes the target audience's needs, leading to more effectivecommunication and improved accessibility