LACUNA UNITS IN MEDICAL DISCOURSE: REASONS OF CHALLENGES IN ENGLISH-UZBEK TRANSLATION

Multidisciplinary and Multidimensional Journal ISSN: 2775-5118 Vol.4 No.12 (2025) I.F. 9.1 308 LACUNA UNITS IN MEDICAL DISCOURSE: REASONS OF CHALLENGES IN ENGLISH-UZBEK TRANSLATION Sanokulova Marjona Avaz qizi Uzbekistan state world languages university, a teacher of the theoretical aspects of English language [email protected] ABSTRACT Medical translation is a critical domain where precision and clarity are paramount. However, linguistic and cultural lacunae—terms, concepts, or expressions present in one language but absent in another—pose significant challenges for translators. This study examines lacuna units in medical discourse, focusing on English-to-Uzbek translation. Using a corpus-based approach and analysis of authentic medical texts, this research identifies key lacuna units, explores their types (cultural, lexical, and conceptual), and proposes strategies for accurate translation. Findings aim to enhance understanding of cross-linguistic gaps in medical translation and contribute to improving communication in healthcare settings. Key words. lacuna units, discourse, conceptual health, compensation, medical text. INTRODUCTION In today’s increasingly multicultural world, healthcare translation is more than just a convenience, it’s a necessity. Every patient, regardless of language, deserves clear and accurate medical communication. Yet, translating healthcare information is not as simple as swapping words from one language to another. The stakes are high, and the challenges are many. Medical translation requires not only linguistic proficiency but also deep cultural and conceptual knowledge. A lacuna unit represents a phenomenon where a word, phrase, or concept in the source language has no exact equivalent in the target language. In medical texts, such gaps can cause misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and even health risks. English medical terminology often reflects Western biomedical concepts, whereas Uzbek may lack direct equivalents due to historical, cultural, or linguistic reasons. Identifying and analyzing these lacuna units is therefore essential for effective translation. Previous studies have explored lacuna units in literary and legal translation (Nida, 1964; Vinay & Darbelnet, 1995), but medical discourse remains underresearched. Key contributions include: Nida highlighted the importance of dynamic equivalence in translation, particularly in conveying meaning across cultures. Whereas, Kade (1968) examined Multidisciplinary and Multidimensional Journal ISSN: 2775-5118 Vol.4 No.12 (2025) I.F. 9.1 309 non-equivalence phenomena in translation. Newmark discussed cultural and lexical lacunae, emphasizing strategies for compensation. In today’s increasingly multicultural world, healthcare translation is more than just a convenience, it’s a necessity. Every patient, regardless of language, deserves clear and accurate medical communication. Yet, translating healthcare information is not as simple as swapping words from one language to another. The stakes are high, and the challenges are many. Few studies have specifically addressed English-Uzbek medical translation. Lacuna units in medical discourse can be lexical (e.g., "gallbladder" vs. the absence of an exact colloquial term in Uzbek), cultural (e.g., “informed consent” in the context of Western medicine), or conceptual (e.g., mental health terms with no direct Uzbek equivalent). Key words. lacuna units, discourse, conceptual health, compensation, medical text. In a globalized world where patients, employees and users are more mobile than ever, language barriers are becoming a real obstacle to safe care and accessible digital services. And when the content is medical, where misunderstandings can have serious consequences, more than just standard translations are required. Translating digital platforms into multiple languages not only improves reach and user experience, but also ensures accurate, consistent and safe communication. This research employs a corpus-based qualitative approach: 1. Data collection. Authentic English medical texts, including patient information leaflets, clinical guidelines, and research articles, were collected. 2. Identification of lacuna units. Instances where English terms lacked direct Uzbek equivalents were marked. 3. Categorization. Lacuna units were classified into lexical, cultural, and conceptual types. 4. Analysis. Translation strategies were examined, including borrowing, paraphrasing, and explicitation. 5. Findings. The analysis revealed several types of lacuna units: In Uzbek there are some terms without direct Uzbek equivalents, such as: Hypertension → “yuqori qon bosimi” (descriptive paraphrase used). Bipolar disorder → paraphrased due to lack of a concise term. Cultural Lacunae Concepts embedded in Western medical culture: Informed consent → often explained as “bemor roziligi, tushuntirilgan holda”. Conceptual Lacunae Terms representing complex concepts unfamiliar in Uzbek medical practice: End-of-life care, Palliative care. There are some strategies to translate English medical terms from Uzbek into English. Borrowing, paraphrasing, functional equivalence, and footnotes are commonly applied to bridge these gaps. Multidisciplinary and Multidimensional Journal ISSN: 2775-5118 Vol.4 No.12 (2025) I.F. 9.1 310 Lacuna units in medical discourse highlight the importance of cultural and linguistic awareness. Translators must balance accuracy, clarity, and reader comprehension. In Uzbek medical translation, paraphrasing is the most frequent solution, but it may lengthen the text and risk ambiguity. Borrowing from English is occasionally used but may be unfamiliar to patients or readers. Standardized Uzbek medical terminology Translator training in cross-cultural medical concepts. Corpus-based reference tools to guide translation decisions. Medical lacuna units pose significant challenges in English-Uzbek translation. Addressing lexical, cultural, and conceptual gaps is crucial for effective communication in healthcare. This study provides a foundation for future research, including the development of a Uzbek medical translation corpus and guidelines for handling lacuna units. The main reason for our research is the specificity of medical terms in Uzbek. While in English, many terms, especially names of diseases (apendicite, cataratas, conjuntivite etc.), are used in both professional and non-professional communication, i.e. between doctors as well as between patients, in Uzbek we normally come across two terms that belong to the same concept. One term is of Latin origin and typical of communication between experts, the other one has Germanic roots and is part of everyday language. Let us illustrate this situation by giving an example: Whereas the German professional (doctor) would use the term shifokor, in the communication between non-professionals the word doktor would be preferred. When translating from English (or from other Romance languages) into Uzbek, it is evident that the option for either the Latin (or Greek) term or the Germanic term is by no means arbitrary and depends basically on the "skopos" of the translation. If the text to be translated addresses a general audience, it would be correct to use the term of German origin, whereas in a translation for professionals the erudite term of Latin origin would be adequate. Although the question of synonymy (in sensu lato) seems evident, it is a matter of fact that words and their use undergo constant evolution, which may result in additional problems for the translation. As it happened in economics, for example, the dissemination of medicine enriched everyday language with terms that before had been used exclusively by professionals, whereas, at the same time, other English words fell into disuse and sound antiquated while they are still used in the area of medicine. Apart from that, everyday language also 'absorbed' disease terms which relate to currently discovered diseases and new ways of treatment. Due to all of these reasons, the translation of medical terms may present a translation problem. This is why we intend to contribute to the identification of a set of problems encountered when dealing with medical texts in translation classes and try to offer some possible solutions for particular translation problems. We focused, therefore, on English popular science texts that were Multidisciplinary and Multidimensional Journal ISSN: 2775-5118 Vol.4 No.12 (2025) I.F. 9.1 311 extracted from the Internet. These texts appeared in thematic sections of general publications, in health care magazines, and in information leaflets directed at a general readership. Most of these texts were written by technical journalists and not by physicians. Medical language belongs to the so-called languages for special purposes (fanga ,sohaga oid atamalar / maxsus atamalar) which differ from everyday language above all in the specificity of the terminology and in that they are used in communication between professionals. These languages for special purposes are part of the language system and can be classified in different ways. This classification is always difficult, since these languages are in constant development and partially overlap with everyday language. 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