Author(s)

Peng Tingting ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ School of Humanities and Education, Guangzhou Huanan Business College, No. 300 Changyaoling Changxue Road, Zhongluotan Town, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, 510550, China

Corresponding Author

Peng Tingting

ABSTRACT

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the application of literal and free translation in medical English translation, and based on Newmark's theories of semantic and communicative translation, discusses the challenges encountered in professional translation practice. The study emphasizes the lexical, syntactic, and expressive characteristics of medical English, along with its stringent requirements for accuracy and objectivity. It proposes appropriateness, accuracy, and fluency as the core principles of medical translation. By comparing different text types and linguistic functions, the paper explores how to appropriately employ both literal and free translation in medical contexts. Furthermore, it integrates ethical values and a normative ethical framework to guide practice, aiming to ensure the precise transmission of information and the maximization of patient welfare.

KEYWORDS

Medical translation, Literal and free translation, Newmark's theory, Ethical framework

CITE THIS PAPER

Peng Tingting. Literal and Free Translation in Medical Translation: Applications of Newmark's Theory and Ethical Framework. Lecture Notes on Language and Literature (2026). Vol. 9, No.1, 64-71. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/langl.2026.090109.

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