Medical translation pitfalls

A few pitfalls in translating Nepali medical terms I've come across in my work as an interpreter. A language like Nepalese, which is the common lingu franca of a hilly region with about a hundred differentt languages -- not just dialects, mind you, 100+ distinct languages! -- well, it'll naturally pick up different linguistic influences in different regions.

1. First of all, the word for medicine, as listed in various Nepali dictionaries, is aushadhi. But I soon learned another word in common use, dubai. I was only able to find this listed in one of the many dictionaries I use, the old Warren dictionary from 1991. I've found a couple of other words for medicine as well, okhati and ilaj, but I've never come across anybody knowing or using these words!
   
2. Another pitfall is the translation of the word infection. It's used in two different ways in English: (1) When one person transmits a disease to another person, it's said that he gets infected. (2) When parasites go into a wound, the wound is said to be infected. In case (1) the Nepali translation is saruwa, in case (2) it's listed in dictionaries as suj(-ån) or jålån... But nobody understands these words. Rather, sankarmod seems to be the better word, but it baffles me 'cause I haven't found this word listed in any dictionary.
   
3. The word allergy, to my knowledge there's no proper Nepalese translation. In stead, I'm explaining that allergy is when the body reacts negatively to having eaten/taken/come in contact with food, medicin etc...

Just goes to show how ambiguous translating can be, I think especially a language like Nepali.

Words that look alike (part 2)

A more extensive list of 10 tricky words / word pairs from the Nepali vocabulary that look so much alike that it becomes rather confusing when trying to remember what's what - especially, of course, in a 'sharp situation'! But it might be an advantage, might help fascilitate learning (see previous post, Nepali words that look alike)

pathaunu      pataunu gala gåla khanu khannu adha adhar ha(n)s ha(n)s-nu hindnu hernu dant dhad chora chåra båndå bånda dori tori

to send to convince chin neck to eat to dig half base a duck to laugh to walk to see tooth back(bone) son bird closed cabbage rope/cable(/male gender) mustard

possible source of occational confusion!!