14 Jun Some keys to translate your scientific research abstract

As you may know, an abstract is a brief summary of a complex research paper. It is one of the best ways to publicise your science research articles and to familiarise future readers with your research topic, allowing them to know if it is what they are looking for. However, after writing an abstract, academics are often faced with the problem of how to communicate it to an international audience, as they are written in a very specific academic style and language that can be difficult for non-native speakers to understand. Using a medical translation agency to translate the abstract of your scientific research could be the best solution.

Why is it so important to translate a scientific research abstract?

There are countless reasons to translate your abstract, but at Okomeds we have compiled a list of the most important ones for you. The translation of your abstract:

• Allows academics to reach a wider audience.
• Gives an international reach to research and knowledge.
• Ensures that research is properly understood by those not familiar with the original language.
• Helps build international cooperation and collaborations.
• Could be requested by universities, scientific journals or conferences in order to decide whether to accept your research.

What should you know before translating an abstract?

Before translating your abstract, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when writing it in the original language.

What does an abstract contain?

An abstract should be complete, concise, clear and easy to read. This text should include the same parts as the article in a very condensed form:

• Title
• Aim/objectives
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions
• Keywords at the end of the abstract that describe the research and help to position it in online search engines. This is known as SEO and is essential to attract readers, hits and downloads of your research. These keywords should also appear in the abstract itself in a clear and coherent way.

How many words must it have?

Each institution establishes its own maximum word count. Moreover, some include the keywords in this maximum while others do not. Therefore the most important thing is to take into account the criteria of the institution requesting your abstract to avoid rejection. However, they normally need to be between 150 and 300 words.

And finally, what kind of language should I use when writing an abstract?

The language should appeal, convince and reflect the professional practice and value. To do this, you should use writing techniques that push the reader into action, resulting in the reading and future acceptance of the full text.

Tips for writing and translating an abstract

It is quite common to use the most important sentences in the article to create the abstract. Nevertheless, you need to use this technique sparingly. Furthermore, due to the maximum word count requirements, you have to bear in mind that you cannot replicate many sentences in full. So for this technique to work you need to tweak the text:

• Avoid adverbs and connectors.
• Use adjectival structures (e.g. progressive degradation), instead of verbal structures.
• Use the passive voice sparingly.
• Make use of acronyms and abbreviations as long as you explaine them the first time they appear.

One aspect of particular importance is to review the abstract and make sure that it flows and is not just a collection of unconnected sentences.

Contact a professional translator to translate your scientific research abstract

A professional translator will have the knowledge and experience to ensure that the translation is correct and effective and will be able to take into account any cultural differences that may affect the way your abstract is understood by readers in other countries. They will adapt the keywords, use language that attracts the attention of the reader and use the appropriate techniques for writing an abstract in the target language.

Professional translators play an important role in academic research. They help bridge the gap between different languages and cultures, enabling academics to communicate with each other and share ideas. By translating your abstract, you will make your research accessible to a wider audience.