Author: Pagouh Raymond
Département de Langues et de Linguistiques, Université de Maiduguri
Date: 01/11/2025
This study examines the challenges and cultural nuances encountered in the translation and interpretation of Hausa medical terms by Hausa-speaking patients into French for French-speaking medical staff working with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) France at the Gamboru Ngala Primary Care Centre in Borno State, Nigeria. It explores the linguistic challenges related to the lack of direct lexical equivalents, the use of idiomatic expressions, and culturally embedded Hausa explanations of common illnesses for MSF French medical staff. The study adopted qualitative methods, including interviews with interpreters/translators, healthcare professionals, and patients, and field observation were used as data collection methods. The study draws on Skopos theory and Hans J. Vermeer's theory of intercultural communication (1978), which emphasized the role of targeted and culturally sensitive translation in medical translation. The findings highlight the critical need for culturally competent interpretation and better training of medical interpreters in the medical field. The study suggests practical recommendations for improving intercultural communication and healthcare delivery in similar humanitarian settings. The findings reveal that, in addition to linguistic differences, deeply rooted cultural concepts, idiomatic expressions, euphemisms, and contextual worldviews significantly affect the accuracy and impact of translation. Issues such as lexical gaps, cultural sensitivity, interpreter bias, emotional tone, and a lack of formal training often lead to misinterpretation, miscommunication, mistrust, and additional tensions.The study concludes by emphasizing that interpreter training, promoting bilingual cultural competence, and developing context-specific translation strategies are essential for improving communication and achieving clear communication between Hausa-speaking patients and MSF France's French-speaking medical staff.
Mots clés: Communication, Traduction, Interprétation, Termes médicaux, défis interculturel
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