A Study on the Applicability of Catford's Theory of Translation Shifts to Medical Guideline Texts

Abstract

Medical guideline texts (e.g., clinical practice guidelines, drug package inserts, diagnostic and treatment manuals) are characterized by strong prescriptiveness, high information density, and dual readership orientation (targeting both healthcare professionals and general patients). Their translation must strictly adhere to scientific accuracy while simultaneously accommodating the readability and cultural adaptability of the target language. Guided by Catford's Theory of Translation Shifts, this paper analyzes the practical application of level shifts and category shifts through typical translation examples, based on the stylistic function, terminology system, and communicative context of medical guidelines. It reveals the theoretical significance of Catford's model in resolving issues such as syntactic conflicts, terminology standardization, and cultural defaults in medical guideline translation.