Translating English Medical Terminology Into Uzbek: Equivalence Gaps and Practical Strategies

The growing circulation of English-language medical information has made accurate English-Uzbek terminology transfer an urgent linguistic and professional task. This article examines recurrent equivalence gaps in the translation of medical terms and evaluates practical strategies for resolving them. A qualitative comparative analysis was conducted on a purposive sample of representative terms drawn from medical dictionaries, instructional materials, and contextual examples. The analysis focused on lexical compression, semantic range, internationalisms, abbreviations, multiword units, and audience-dependent variation. The findings show that direct equivalence is effective when a standardized Uzbek form is established, whereas broad English terms such as disorder, screening, failure, and lesion require contextual specification. Descriptive translation improves clarity but may reduce terminological economy; transliteration preserves international recognizability but can remain opaque for non-specialist readers. The most reliable solutions therefore combine conceptual accuracy, contextual fit, consistency, and controlled explanation. The study argues that medical terminology should be translated through a tiered decision process that begins with the concept, checks accepted usage, identifies the target audience, and ends with specialist verification. These principles can support clearer clinical communication, translator training, and the gradual standardization of Uzbek medical vocabulary.