In 2011, during the University Entrance Tests in the Basque Country, a mistake in the Basque version of the Chemistry exam needed the education authorities to intervene. The statement read “molecular iodine” where it should have been “potassium iodide”, which directly affected over 1,500 students. Even though this was in an academic context, the incident clearly illustrates how a problem with terminology can impact critical processes. For a translation agency in Bilbao and a Basque translator, this type of incident reinforces the importance of having teams with technical training and mastery of co-official languages.
Technical translation and terminology control
Translating technical or scientific texts involves more than mastery of the language. The correct use of specialized terminology is essential for ensuring understanding and preventing ambiguities. In sectors such as engineering or chemistry, this kind of mistake can lead to delays, re-doing documentation or even questioning compliance with legal or regulatory requirements.
The university exam instance is not an isolated event. In multilingual settings such as Basque or Galician contexts, the translation of technical concepts requires additional review. Reports show that in translations into Basque, mistakes are often related to formal aspects of the language, morphology, declension and grammatical structures that require specific attention. A Basque to Spanish translator or a Galician to Spanish translator with technical experience can identify these nuances and apply solutions that are consistent with the area of expertise.
Co-official languages and specialized documentation
In Galicia, for example, the use of Galician in institutional, educational or agri-food documentation poses similar challenges. The translation of certificates, technical specifications or contracts needs to be accurate from both the linguistic and conceptual point of view. A Galician-Spanish translator must be able to handle not only the language, but also the conventions of the particular sector in which they are translating.
From an operational point of view, a translation agency in Vigo can contribute additional resources: terminology control tools, specialized translation memories and cross-review by experts in the subject. These procedures help to reduce the number of mistakes and ensure that the final texts meet the required technical standards.
Conclusion
Even though the Chemistry exam mistake took place in the education sphere, it poses questions about other sectors where terminological accuracy is vital. In multilingual settings involving complex technical documentation, having professionals who are trained in the subject and have an extensive understanding of the language, such as a Basque translator or a Galician translator, can be crucial to avoiding problems further along the line. For projects with specific demands, the support of a translation agency in Bilbao or Vigo makes it possible to apply quality processes that minimize the risks associated with these kinds of mistakes.
