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¿Debería o debo?: Variaciones deónticas en la traducción al español de los verbos modales should y must en prospectos farmacéuticos

Agha, Basem LU (2025) SPAK01 20251
Spanish Studies
Abstract
This study investigates the modal verbs must and should with deontic meaning in patient information leaflets (PILs), comparing them with their varying translations in the corresponding PILs in Spanish. The objective is to draw conclusions about whether and how the degree of obligation is modified in the translation. Modal verbs are known to pose translation challenges due to the absence of one-to-one equivalents. For example, both must and should are often translated into the present tense of deber. Furthermore, modal verbs play a crucial role in PIL instructions, where inaccurate translations can jeopardize patient safety. To investigate deontic variation, the first step was to develop a classification system in the theoretical framework... (More)
This study investigates the modal verbs must and should with deontic meaning in patient information leaflets (PILs), comparing them with their varying translations in the corresponding PILs in Spanish. The objective is to draw conclusions about whether and how the degree of obligation is modified in the translation. Modal verbs are known to pose translation challenges due to the absence of one-to-one equivalents. For example, both must and should are often translated into the present tense of deber. Furthermore, modal verbs play a crucial role in PIL instructions, where inaccurate translations can jeopardize patient safety. To investigate deontic variation, the first step was to develop a classification system in the theoretical framework that maps the deontic-semantic relationships between the English modal verbs and Spanish verbal periphrases of obligation. Subsequently, a pharmaco-professional evaluation was caried out during the analysis phase. The results obtained were derived from combining the semantic and pharmaco-professional evaluations, along with an analysis of linguistic markers in the textual context. It was concluded that the deontic degree remained unaltered in most cases. Additionally, the study revealed that, beyond semantic considerations, the choice of an appropriate translation largely depends on context, which underscores the need to hire professionals with both linguistic and medical knowledge, i.e., translators specializing in medicine. (Less)
Abstract (Spanish)
Este estudio investiga los verbos modales must y should con significado deóntico en los prospectos farmacéuticos, comparándolos con sus traducciones variadas en los prospectos correspondientes en español. El objetivo es sacar conclusiones sobre si y cómo el grado de obligación se modifica en la traducción. Se sabe que los verbos modales representan un desafío en la traducción debido a la falta de equivalentes exactos. Por ejemplo, tanto must como should suelen ser traducidos a la forma presente de deber. Además, los verbos modales desempeñan un papel fundamental en las instrucciones de los prospectos, donde las traducciones imprecisas pueden poner en peligro la seguridad del paciente. Para investigar la variación deóntica, se procedió... (More)
Este estudio investiga los verbos modales must y should con significado deóntico en los prospectos farmacéuticos, comparándolos con sus traducciones variadas en los prospectos correspondientes en español. El objetivo es sacar conclusiones sobre si y cómo el grado de obligación se modifica en la traducción. Se sabe que los verbos modales representan un desafío en la traducción debido a la falta de equivalentes exactos. Por ejemplo, tanto must como should suelen ser traducidos a la forma presente de deber. Además, los verbos modales desempeñan un papel fundamental en las instrucciones de los prospectos, donde las traducciones imprecisas pueden poner en peligro la seguridad del paciente. Para investigar la variación deóntica, se procedió inicialmente, en el marco teórico, a desarrollar un sistema de clasificación que mapea las relaciones deóntico-semánticas entre los verbos modales del inglés y las perífrasis verbales de obligación del español. Posteriormente, se llevó a cabo una evaluación fármaco-profesional en la fase del análisis. Los resultados obtenidos se derivaron de la combinación de la evaluación semántica y la fármaco-profesional, junto con un análisis de los marcadores lingüísticos en el contexto textual. Se concluyó que el grado deóntico permaneció inalterado en la mayoría de los casos. Adicionalmente, el estudio reveló que, más allá de las consideraciones semánticas, la elección de una traducción adecuada depende en gran medida del contexto, lo que subraya la necesidad de contratar profesionales con conocimientos tanto lingüísticos como médicos, es decir, traductores especializados en medicina. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Agha, Basem LU
supervisor
organization
course
SPAK01 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
modalidad deóntica, verbos modales deónticos, perífrasis verbales de obligación, should, must, deber, tener que, traducción, variaciones deónticas, prospectos farmacéuticos
language
Spanish
id
9200378
date added to LUP
2025-06-17 11:21:13
date last changed
2025-06-18 16:34:26
@misc{9200378,
  abstract     = {{This study investigates the modal verbs must and should with deontic meaning in patient information leaflets (PILs), comparing them with their varying translations in the corresponding PILs in Spanish. The objective is to draw conclusions about whether and how the degree of obligation is modified in the translation. Modal verbs are known to pose translation challenges due to the absence of one-to-one equivalents. For example, both must and should are often translated into the present tense of deber. Furthermore, modal verbs play a crucial role in PIL instructions, where inaccurate translations can jeopardize patient safety. To investigate deontic variation, the first step was to develop a classification system in the theoretical framework that maps the deontic-semantic relationships between the English modal verbs and Spanish verbal periphrases of obligation. Subsequently, a pharmaco-professional evaluation was caried out during the analysis phase. The results obtained were derived from combining the semantic and pharmaco-professional evaluations, along with an analysis of linguistic markers in the textual context. It was concluded that the deontic degree remained unaltered in most cases. Additionally, the study revealed that, beyond semantic considerations, the choice of an appropriate translation largely depends on context, which underscores the need to hire professionals with both linguistic and medical knowledge, i.e., translators specializing in medicine.}},
  author       = {{Agha, Basem}},
  language     = {{spa}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{¿Debería o debo?: Variaciones deónticas en la traducción al español de los verbos modales should y must en prospectos farmacéuticos}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}