The Specifics of Translating English Medical Terminology into Russian

Abstract

The translation of English medical terminology into Russian is a complex linguistic and intercultural process shaped by historical development, typological differences between the two languages, and evolving international scientific standards. English has emerged as the dominant language of global medical communication, yet Russian maintains a highly structured medical lexicon rooted in Latin and Greek traditions inherited from European medical scholarship. This study explores the phonetic, morphological, grammatical, and semantic challenges encountered in translating English medical terms into Russian. It discusses transliteration, borrowing, calquing, semantic equivalence, and the coexistence of international and native Russian variants. The paper highlights the crucial role of terminological precision in clinical practice, medical education, and scientific discourse, emphasizing how mistranslation can endanger diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. Understanding these translation specifics is essential in an era of globalization, international medical collaboration, and multilingual education.