Addressing Challenges in Terminology Translation: Insights From EU Medical and Public Health Documents Translated Into Albanian

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges in terminology translation related to European Union documents in the field of medicine and public health, with a particular focus on institutional translation into Albanian. The translation of the Acquis Communautaire represents a core component of Albania’s European integration process. However, it is frequently marked by evident problems in standardization, terminological inconsistency, and non-idiomatic borrowed words from source languages—especially English. The study adopts a descriptive and analytical methodology, including a comparative analysis of documents such as the National Plan for European Integration and the 2024 Progress Report. Findings indicate that the Albanian translations often fail to preserve the legal function of the original texts, struggling to convey their informative and directive content with clarity and precision. This leads to ambiguity and implementation challenges. Moreover, the analysis of the above-mentioned documents highlights the absence of a stable terminological corpus, a lack of inter-institutional coordination, and the insufficient involvement of linguistic and subject-matter experts in the translation process. This paper provides specific recommendations, including the development of a multilingual glossary aligned with the IATE database, the establishment of a national terminological platform, the training of specialized translators for each field, and the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration. Ultimately, this paper seeks to contribute to the improvement of translation quality in this critical domain and to support the alignment of Albanian legislation with the EU legal framework, recognizing translation as a strategic activity in service of the integration process.