Cultural Equivalence Research Articles

An Instructional Module for Functional Dissociative Seizures (FDS) in Hindi: Enhancing Communication and Management in India.

Functional dissociative seizures (FDS) are very common in neurology clinics, they straddle both neurology and psychiatry. In India, scarce resources and guidelines are available for effectively conveying their diagnosis and management, which leads to a substantial gap in care. We aimed to provide an instructional module for FDS, tailored to clinicians, patients, and caregivers in Hindi, to enhance communication of diagnosis and facilitate suitable management strategies. The instructional module development process was based on clinical settings and expert opinions. A standard translation process was performed to ensure the linguistic and cultural equivalence. Validation was carried out by a panel of 15 validators, comprising 13 neurologists and two psychiatrists, to identify key psychoeducation components and their significance. They were provided a questionnaire consisting of five questions that were related to completeness, understandability, legibility, clarification, and usefulness of educational material for clinicians, patients, and caregivers. Items were rated using a 5-point Likert scale. There was agreement on four items (Q1, Q3, Q4, and Q5), whereas approximately 85% of the validators agreed on the remaining one item (Q2). The instructional module demonstrated high content validity as indicated by both item level-content validity index (0.98) and scale-level content validity index (0.97), alongside content validity ratio and modified kappa statistics. The developed Hindi instructional module for FDS serves as a valuable tool to enhance the communication of FDS diagnosis and dispel misconceptions. This offers a comprehensive resource for clinicians, patients, and caregivers in India, potentially bridging gap in FDS care.

Adaptation of unified protocol treatment for transdiagnostic disorders in Pakistan: A heuristic framework.

The access to evidence-based treatments for mental health problems is limited in low-resource settings. Transdiagnostic approaches, such as the Unified Protocol (UP), are a potential solution for these settings because they are multi-problem focused, modular, flexible, and have low complexity. This study aimed to adapt UP to the mental health context of an urban speciality clinic in Pakistan using a four-step process of heuristic framework. The study employed an iterative and stakeholder-based approach to align the protocol with local values, language, and needs. Primarily, the proposed modifications focus on language use, matching literacy level, graphical illustrations, and relevance of examples. A multi-method approach including expert review, cognitive interviewing, and adaptation testing ensured cultural equivalence. Participants diagnosed with depression and anxiety were provided culturally adapted treatment (N = 15) at the testing phase. Findings indicated that the participants not only experienced significant reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety but also found the culturally adapted UP to be easy to understand, culturally relevant, and engaging. This study provides evidence that the UP can be culturally adapted and used in the mental health context of Pakistan. The findings suggest that the UP is a promising intervention for individuals with depression and anxiety in low-resource settings.

Investigating how cultural differences influence the translation process and the strategies used by translators to bridge cultural gaps

This study investigates the impact of cultural differences on the translation process and the strategies used by translators to bridge these cultural gaps. Through qualitative interviews with professional translators specializing in literature, business, legal, and technical translation, the research identifies key strategies employed to address cultural challenges. These strategies include localization, adaptation, the use of cultural equivalents, annotation, and consultation with cultural informants. The findings reveal that these strategies are effective in maintaining both translation accuracy and cultural relevance. Localization tailors content to the cultural context of the target audience, while adaptation handles idiomatic expressions and culturally specific references. Cultural equivalents preserve the emotional and cultural impact of the source text, and annotations provide necessary explanations for cultural references without direct equivalents. Consultation with cultural informants enhances the accuracy and appropriateness of translations, particularly in specialized fields. The effectiveness of these strategies is supported by concrete examples from the translators' experiences, demonstrating successful applications across various fields. The study's findings align with established theories in translation studies, such as those proposed by Venuti, Nida, Baker, and House, reinforcing the importance of cultural competence in translation. This research highlights the complex interplay between language and culture in the translation process and underscores the necessity for tailored strategies to address cultural nuances. The study contributes to the theoretical understanding of cultural translation and offers practical recommendations for translators. As global communication continues to expand, the role of culturally competent translators remains vital in facilitating cross-cultural understanding and interaction. Future research should explore the evolving role of technology in translation and its implications for cultural competence.

Translation, adaptation, and validation of ASK nasal-12 into Brazilian Portuguese

ObjectiveTranslate, adapt, and validate the Anterior Skull Base Nasal Inventory 12 questionnaire (ASK Nasal-12) to Brazilian Portuguese. MethodsA prospective longitudinal observational study was developed at the Skull Base Surgery Center clinic of the Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo. There were five stages to translating the original ASK-12 questionnaire: two independent translations, consensus between the two, back-translation, comparison, and revision for the semi-final version. Internal consistency, reliability, and validation with a previous already validate questionnaire were all assessed. ResultsOver 30 months 72 patients in total were included in the study, of which six had to be excluded afterwards according to the research criteria. The internal consistency using Cronbach’s Alpha was calculated and successful. Next the reliability and agreement between the test and retest were analyzed. The Minimally Important Clinical Difference (MCID) was calculated for the 13 scores at each of the four time points. Finally, the final translated version was validated with the SNOT-22 questionnaire. ConclusionThe translation, adaptation, and validation of the ASK Nasal-12 questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese appear consistent and effective regarding its cultural equivalence for monitoring the QOL of patients undergoing transnasal access for endoscopic anterior skull base surgeries. Level of evidenceII.

Validation of Autism Stigma Knowledge – Questionnaire (ASK-Q) for Brazilian Portuguese

BackgroundLow levels of knowledge among health professionals about autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can impair the care provided to people with autism. In Brazil, there are still no validated instruments that assess the knowledge of pharmacy students and pharmacists regarding ASD. ObjectiveThis study aimed to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of the Autism Stigma Knowledge Questionnaire (ASK-Q) into Brazilian Portuguese and to evaluate the evidence of content validity. MethodsThis study was conducted in two stages, as recommended in the literature. Stage 1 corresponded to cross-cultural adaptation carried out in six phases (translation of the ASK-Q, synthesis of the translations, evaluation by a committee of experts, evaluation by the target audience of pharmacy students and pharmacists, reverse translation, and evaluation by the author of the original instrument). Step 2 corresponds to the assessment of content validity evidence. ResultsThe instrument presented semantic, idiomatic, conceptual, and cultural equivalences, and the author considered the adaptation adequate. Content validity had an adequate coefficient (0.89). The ASK-Q was cross-culturally adapted to the Brazilian context according to the main theoretical framework. ConclusionsFuture studies will be conducted to evaluate other evidence for the validity of the ASK-Q-Brasil. These studies will be fundamental in assessing knowledge about ASD.

The development of the Autism Stigma and Knowledge Questionnaire, Second edition (ASK-Q-2), through a cross-cultural psychometric investigation.

The Autism Stigma and Knowledge Questionnaire (ASK-Q) was developed to assess autism knowledge across cultural contexts. The current study aimed to examine cultural equivalence of the measure using a large, international database. These analyses identified 18 items in need of examination for removal or revision. A team of autism experts recommended several additional changes to reduce stigma and increase cross-cultural sensitivity and accuracy of the items on the measure. These changes resulted in a briefer measure with maintained statistical support.

Translation Strategies of Nusantara Food Menu

The research aims to analyze the translation strategies and the use of Culture-Specific Items (CSIs) in nusantara food menus in Indonesia. Translators usually use their perception to translate the menu without the involvement of the chefs. As a result, the translation of food menus can vary from one restaurant to another because each chef has their unique way of preparing their food. Collaboration between translators and chefs is necessary to ensure that the translated menus highlight the characteristics and uniqueness of each dish. The results show that the translation strategies used are Reduction and Expansion (81 data), Couplets (34 data), Cultural Equivalence (8 data), Transference (7 data), Descriptive Equivalence (5 data), Functional Equivalence (4 data), and Naturalization (2 data). The use of CSIs found in the data are Ingredients (186 data), Cooking Techniques (113 data), Seasoning (83 data), Proper Name (39 data), Flavor (9 data), Color (7 data), and Texture (4 data). However, the translation strategy of Synonymy, Through-Translation, Shift or Transposition, Modulation, Recognised Translation, Translation Label, Compensation, Componential Analysis, Paraphrase, and Other Procedures are not found in the data.

Comparison of Cultural Equivalence in Indonesian and German Versions of Show Yourself Songs

Comparison of Cultural Equivalence in Indonesian and German Versions of Show Yourself Songs

Systemic Analysis of the Translation of Cultural Elements in English and French Versions of Mofolo’s Moeti oa Bochabela

This study analyses the translation of cultural elements in the two translations of Thomas Mofolo’s Moeti oa Bochabela. The research objectives sought to identify the cultural elements in the two translations, the techniques and strategies used in rendering them, bring out the discrepancies in translating cultural elements in the two translations and suggest improvements for inadequate translations. Data was collected from the three novels and other documents after which a comparative analysis was done. The current study was guided by Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS), Philological theories of translation, Skopos Theory, Manipulation Theory and Socio-Linguistic Theory. Its findings reveal that the techniques that were used to render cultural elements in the corpus under study include literal translation, borrowing and calque, which are source text-oriented, and cultural equivalence, explicitation, reformulation, expansion, description, transposition, adaptation and omission, which are target text-oriented. The two categories of techniques fall under foreignization and domestication strategies respectively. The study also shows that in both translations, the cultural elements were more domesticated than foreignized. The English translation has more foreignization than the French one while the French translation has more domestication than the English version. Although not in all cases, there are discrepancies in the rendering of cultural elements in the two translations.

«Кристаллизация» культурной идентичности как основной механизм формирования современного поликультурного мира

The modern global landscape is characterized by a complex interplay of cultural forces, necessitating a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying the formation and negotiation of cultural identities. This article explores the concept of “crystallization” as a fundamental mechanism for shaping cultural identity in the context of the modern polycultural world. Drawing on insights from social philosophy and cultural studies, the article examines the dynamics of cultural interactions and the emergence of non-complementarity in modern society. The notion of “eternal return” is introduced as a main tool through which cultural identities are perpetuated and reinforced over time. The crisis of polyculturalism is analyzed in light of increasing national conflicts and challenges to the principle of cultural equivalence. This crisis underscores the need for new approaches to fostering dialogic relations and mitigating the proliferation of conflict and non-complementarity. Convergent technologies are identified as pivotal in the “crystallization” of cultural identities, transcending traditional boundaries and facilitating the convergence of diverse cultural expressions. This phenomenon has profound implications for the negotiation of identity in modern society. The study highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms of cultural identity formation in addressing the challenges of the modern polycultural world. By elucidating the concept of “crystallization” and its implications for social philosophy, the article contributes to ongoing discussions on polyculturalism and identity politics.

Transcultural Adaptation of the Collaborative Model for Promoting Competence and Success for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (COMPASS)

ABSTRACT This study describes the transcultural adaptation of the Collaborative Model for Promoting Competence and Success for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (COMPASS) to Brazilian Portuguese (BP). A blind translation of the original version in English (OV) to the version in BP, blind back-translation of the BP version into English (BT), comparison of BT with OV to statistically verify the convergence (CO), minimum divergence (MD) and divergence of meaning (DM) between BT and OV, review of the BP version by a committee of experts, maintaining conceptual, idiomatic, semantic and cultural equivalence, and sending of the files to the author of the model, was carried out. 1372 items were translated from English to BP. After comparing BT/OV, 0.6% DM (9 items), 47.9% MD (657 items), and 51.5% CO (706 items) were found. 97 equivalences were made, 43 semantic and 54 conceptual. The author of the model received all files from steps 1 to 4. Having carried out this process, it is possible to state that COMPASS was transcultural adapted to BP. With the future availability of COMPASS in Brazil, we hope that it can contribute to the development of the quality of education for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the country.

STUDENTS’ STRATEGIES AND ERRORS IN JOURNALISTIC TEXT TRANSLATION

Journalistic text plays an important role in information transfer such as the latest events, issues, or problems from parts of the world. With the rapid development of digital platforms, journalistic can be accessed easily through the internet, which arouses the need for translation as a means to bridge understanding between languages. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate students’ strategies and errors in journalistic text translation. By referring to translation strategies adapted from Newmark (1988), Hoed (2006), Baker (2011), the target text was analyzed based on several strategies including transference, calque, naturalization, accepted translation, paraphrase, modulation, transposition, cultural equivalence, addition, omission, and explication. Based on the translation quality assessment model adapted from Nababan et al. (2012), the translations made by the students have decent quality for accuracy and a medium level of competence in producing acceptable translations. However, the translation products have a high degree of readability which means they are easy to understand. Based on the classification proposed by Sukur et al. (2020), the finding shows that the errors made by the students in translating journalistic texts include a lack of cultural background knowledge, situation concordance, use of unsuitable words to the context, and failure to understand speech act. With some suggestions to overcome those challenges, this study is expected to provide pedagogical insight for translation courses regarding the practice of journalistic translation.

The Power of Context Arabic Vocabulary, Cultural Equivalents, and the Art of Translation (A Case Study Translating the First Verse of the Holy Quran)

The Power of Context Arabic Vocabulary, Cultural Equivalents, and the Art of Translation (A Case Study Translating the First Verse of the Holy Quran)

Translation and Semantics: Challenges and Strategies in Translating English Idioms

Translating idiomatic expressions poses significant challenges for translators, necessitating careful consideration of cultural context, semantic equivalence, and pragmatic usage. This study aims to explore the complexities involved in translating English idioms, with a focus on the intersection of translation and semantics. The primary objectives are to identify the main challenges faced by translators, examine the impact of cultural differences, and propose strategies to overcome these obstacles. Through an analysis of translation choices and translators' notes, four main strategies are identified: literal translation, paraphrasing, cultural equivalents, and adaptation. The findings reveal that cultural differences and semantic obstacles significantly influence the translation process. Furthermore, the study highlights the individual translation styles of the participants, and the variations in the approaches adopted and decision-making processes. The study found that the most important challenges in translating English idioms are: cultural differences, semantic obstacles, and the unfamiliarity of some idioms. This study also found that the most used strategies used in translating English idioms are: literal translation, paraphrasing, cultural equivalents, and adaptation.

The Translational Force of Words: The Journey of “Come” and “Go” into Arabic

This study delves into the translational challenges Arabic translators face in preserving the dynamism and multifaceted meanings of ‘come’ and ‘go’ phrasal verbs during translation using machine tools. Though existing literature has focused on linguistic and cultural equivalence, the ‘translational force’ of specific words is still under-researched. The aim of this study is to verify the accuracy of the output across tools, and to conclude how effective these applications were in the given language pair. The study adopts a mixed methods approach with a survey used to identify the most frequently used machine tools for translation by 27 learners of Translation Studies at Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia. Thereafter, a set of frequently used phrasal verbs in English that use the root verbs ‘come’ and ‘go’ were translated by a convenience sample of 27 final year students of translation as well as by using the popular and free translation tools in the English-Arabic language pair. Results indicated that Saudi students enrolled in translation studies used MateCAT, Google Translate, Reverso to a limited extent, but relied more on online dictionaries for translation to and from English. In addition to this, translation of English phrasal verbs was found to be most accurate in MateCat and there too, accuracy in back translation was found to be more accurate in the case of the phrasal verbs formed with ‘come’ at the root than with ‘go’ verb. Finally, it was found that the translation students preferred ‘soft tools’ like English movies for learning, recall, and use of English phrasal verbs in practice. This study is expected to provide a deeper understanding of the concept of "translational force" and its implications for translating dynamic words in the English-Arabic language pair in the realm of machine-based translation tools.

Translation and Cultural Adaptation into Arabic of Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System® Item Banks: Cognitive Function Abilities and Physical Function for Samples with Mobility Aid Users.

This study aimed to provide Arabic-speaking individuals with tools to assess their cognitive abilities and physical function and to contribute to a better understanding of these capabilities in this population. Thus, the specific objective was to translate into Arabic and culturally adapt two Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) item banks: the Adult Cognitive Function Abilities and the Physical Function for Samples with Mobility Aid Users item banks. This study employed the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) multilingual translation methodology to ensure cultural and linguistic relevance. The translation process included forward and back translations, expert reviews, and finalisation by a language coordinator. Cognitive debriefing interviews were conducted with 30 native healthy Arabic speakers to assess the clarity and comprehension of translated items. Most items were well understood, but two items related to cognitive ability and four related to physical functions required revision to address participant confusion. The translations were refined based on the participants' feedback and expert recommendations. This study followed a rigorous translation process and included cognitive debriefing interviews to ensure linguistic and cultural equivalence. The availability of these tools in Arabic enhances cross-cultural research and practice in healthcare and contributes to a global understanding of cognitive and physical functions.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the young children participation and environment measure for its use in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

Concepts such as participation and environment may differ across cultures. Consequently, cultural equivalence must be assured when using a measure like the Young Children Participation and Environment Measure (YC-PEM) in other settings than the original English-speaking contexts. This study aimed to cross-culturally translate and adapt the YC-PEM into German as it is used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Following international guidelines, two translations were compared, and the research and expert team made the first adaptations. Twelve caregivers of children with and without disabilities from three German-speaking countries participated in two rounds of think-aloud interviews. Data were analyzed by content analysis to look for item, semantic, operational, conceptual, and measurement equivalence to reach a cultural equivalence version in German. Adaptations were needed in all fields but prominently in item, operational, and conceptual equivalence. Operational equivalence resulted in graphical adaptations in the instructions and questions to make the German version of YC-PEM, YC-PEM (G), more user-friendly. This study presents a cross-cultural translation and adaptation process to develop a German version of the YC-PEM suitable for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. A culturally adapted YC-PEM (G) is now available for research, practice, and further validation.

Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation Process and Pilot Testing of the Arabic Version of the Patient Reported Impact of Spasticity Measure (PRISM-Arabic)

Context: The Patient Reported Impact of Spasticity Measure (PRISM) is a self-reported questionnaire that is used to assess the impact of spasticity on the quality of life of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Its inclusion in the assessment process for patients living in a country such as Saudi Arabia, which has one of the highest incidences of SCI around the world, will be an integral addition. Aims: The aims for this study were to translate and cross-culturally adapt the PRISM into Arabic and pilot test the Arabic version on Arabic speakers with SCI in Saudi Arabia. Settings and Design: Translation process was administered according to the recommended guidelines used for cross-cultural adaptation of healthcare measures. Methods and Material: Pilot testing of the PRISM-Arabic was administered to 35 individuals with SCI presenting with spasticity. Participants were interviewed to assess the relevance of the questionnaire to the Arabic language and culture. Face and content validity of the PRISM-Arabic as well as its floor and ceiling effects were assessed. Results: During the translation process, the expert committee made changes in 14 occasions due to cultural equivalence differences. Pilot-testing showed eight items that needed further adaptation. After all were made, the cross-culturally adapted PRISM-Arabic showed adequate face and content validity and did not have flooring and ceiling effects. Conclusions: The PRISM has been successfully translated and cross-culturally adapted into Arabic language. Further assessments of its psychometric properties are recommended. Implications for its use in clinical practice and research were presented.
 Key-words: Spinal cord injury, Spasticity, Patient Reported Impact of Spasticity Measure, PRISM
 Key Messages: The PRISM was successfully translated and cross-culturally adapted for Arabic speakers with SCI reporting spasticity. The introduction of such spasticity-specific self-reported outcome measure into clinics in Saudi Arabia is the first of its kind. The PRISM will introduce a new area of research and clinical assessment related to patients with SCI.

Adaptação transcultural do Mobile Proficiency Questionnaire (Questionário de Proficiência em Dispositivos Móveis) e validade de conteúdo para o português brasileiro

Abstract Objective To present the process of cross-cultural adaptation of the Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire in the Brazilian older population and its content validity. Method This is a validation study. Translation, back-translation, analysis by an expert committee, and also a pre-test with 32 older adults were conducted to assess semantic and cultural equivalence. Results The Brazilian version of the instrument maintained the categories of the original version, evaluating tasks ranging from basic to advanced, divided into eight evaluative subscales: basic functions, communication, data and file storage, internet usage, calendar, entertainment, privacy, and problem-solving and software management. Within these domains, the ease of use and experience with mobile device functions are examined. Conclusion The cross-cultural adaptation demonstrated that the evaluative instrument is a useful tool with high potential for assessing the proficiency of older adults in using mobile devices. The instrument enables the establishment of a panorama of digital competencies in the older population, facilitating the planning of digital inclusion services.

System for Evaluation of Teaching Qualities (SETQ) Smart para o uso no Brasil: versão para residente

ABSTRACT Introduction: It is commonly recognized that the enhancement of students’ learning potential is directly related to preceptors’ qualities. In this sense, the assessment of teachers’ practice becomes an essential element in ensuring the quality in the training of new specialists. However, in the context of medical education in Brazil, there are currently few studies on the evaluation of preceptors and a shortage of instruments for this purpose. One of the currently available instruments is the System for Evaluation of Teaching Qualities (SETQ) Smart. Objective: To conduct a cross-cultural adaptation and content validity of SETQ for use in Brazil. Methods: This instrument comprises two versions and, in this study, the version for residents was adapted for preceptor assessment. The cultural adaptation followed five steps: two initial English to Brazilian Portuguese translations; two synthesis translations; two back-translations; an expert committee assessment of conceptual analysis, semantic, idiomatic and cultural equivalences; and a pre-test. In addition, a panel of expert judges conducted the content validation. Results: Forty resident physicians, with a median age of 30 (IQR = 6.25), participated in the pre-test. Eighty percent of the participants rated the components that make up the SETQ Smart as clear and culturally appropriate, except for the title statement. The expert panel of judges comprised ten residents, 70% female. The agreement rates ranged from 80 to 100% regarding clarity, cultural adequacy, item representativeness within their respective domains and each item permanence in the instrument assessments. Conclusion: This study culturally adapted one of the two versions of the SETQ Smart for use in Brazil and provided preliminary evidence sources of validity of the versions through content validation.