Global Health Communication: Linguistics Strategies for Translating English Medical Texts into Urdu

Authors

  • Khalid Ahmed

    Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts (FELA), INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Malaysia
  • Muhammad Haroon Rasheed

    Department of English, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 5400, Pakistan
  • Irfan Abbas

    Department of English, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 5400, Pakistan

    Department of Linguistics, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME 04038, USA
  • Badriah Khaleel

    Department of Applied Linguistics, Kinnaird College for Women University, Lahore 5400, Pakistan
  • Naveed Ahmad Khan

    Department of English, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 5400, Pakistan
  • Ruqia Saba Ashraf

    Department of English, The Women University, Multan 60500, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Asad Habib

    Department of English and Literature, The University of Lahore, Lahore 5400, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i11.10797
Received: 29 June 2025 | Revised: 7 Julyh 2025 | Accepted: 10 July 2025 | Published Online: 17 October 2025

Abstract

This study explores the linguistic strategies of translation of Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) from English to Urdu language to enhance global health communication. The theoretical framework of the study is based on Skopos Theory and Nida’s Dynamic Equivalence, addressing linguistic complexity and cultural adaptation. Medical translations must balance technical accuracy with accessibility to ensure that non-specialist readers understand crucial healthcare information that is essential for human health. This research analyzes four PILs translated into Urdu to evaluate strategies such as paraphrasing, restructuring, selective omission, and addition. The findings of the study suggest that these techniques enhance readability while maintaining the functional purpose of medical texts. The study highlights how cultural adaptations, including region specific terminology and tone adjustments, improve comprehension and enhance patient adherence. The comparative analysis demonstrates that Skopos-aligned translation strategies successfully adapt medical content to different linguistic and cultural contexts. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the importance of maintaining medical accuracy while simplifying language to ensure that health communication remains effective. By integrating Skopos Theory’s purpose-driven approach with Nida's focus on audience reception, this study provides a comprehensive framework for the translation of medical texts for global audiences. The findings have implications for medical translation, health literacy, and patient safety, emphasizing the need for communication that is both culturally and linguistically appropriate.

Keywords:

Human Health; Patient Information Leaflets; Medical Translation; Skopos Theory; Cultural Adaptation; Dynamic Equivalence

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How to Cite

Ahmed, K., Rasheed, M. H., Abbas, I., Khaleel, B., Ahmad Khan , N., Ashraf, R. S., & Habib, M. A. (2025). Global Health Communication: Linguistics Strategies for Translating English Medical Texts into Urdu. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(11), 192–203. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i11.10797

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 11 (November 2025): In progress

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Article

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Copyright © 2025 Khalid Ahmed, Muhammad Haroon Rasheed, Irfan Abbas, Badriah Khaleel, Naveed Ahmad Khan , Ruqia Saba Ashraf, Muhammad Asad Habib

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.