30 Reseñas.qxd IBÉRICA 13 [2007]: 181-194 181 La redacción y traducción biomédica (inglés–español). Un estudio basado en 200 textos is a monographic volume of research based on Esther Vázquez y del Árbol’s doctoral thesis defended at the University of Granada, but with an expanded corpus doubling that of her original dissertation published in 2002. The author dedicates her work to fundamentally two kinds of readership, first to Spanish-speaking specialists in the bio-medical professions who have to write and / or translate specific texts into English, and secondly professional translators of bio-medical language from English to Spanish and vice versa. However, I would also venture to say that the information is of great value to other interest groups such as LSP teachers and learners who require scientific knowledge of the discourse patterns of the genre defined from the sampling, as well as to researchers of this specialization in order to enrich their studies of corpus work. The introduction and justification poses some novel points like challenging as false the premise that written scientific style is always clear, concise and direct. Other aspects address the increased demand for appropriate medical translation in our modern day society due to immigration. The content is divided into seven chapters, three appendices and bibliographical references. Chapter one offers a review of the characteristics of scientific writing illustrated with examples from the corpus analyzed. English for Medical Purposes (EMP) is finely defined and classified from the perspective of textual rhetoric, register and genre. Chapter two features genre analysis with aspects like the etymology of the concept, the divergent qualities of text types and its place within scientific environs. This chapter claims that the texts of corpus under study can be justifiably labeled genre rather than text types. Chapter three constitutes a theoretical overview of Reseñas/Book Reviews La redacción y traducción biomédica (inglés-español). Un estudio basado en 200 textos. Esther Vázquez y del Árbol. Granada: Universidad de Granada, 2006. 229 pages. ISBN: 84-338-3838-5 (Soft cover) 10 RESEÑAS.qxp 6/4/07 09:11 Página 181 different positions on genre analysis. Dr. Vázquez initially opts for the stance taken by Swales (1990), but concludes that Paltridge (1997) provides keys that further simplify analytical processes conducive to arriving at more rigorous detail. Thus, chapter four applies Partridge’s methodological proposal for corpus design of the 200 texts belonging to various biomedical genre and sub-genre. The structures of the texts are presented schematically, while content is dealt with in a series of descriptive keys facilitating their identification. Results are then contrasted in order to ascertain the salient features in each group. Chapter five presents the final conclusions coherently drawn from the body of research and most certainly worthy of consideration. Chapter six contains helpful data on the problems involved in translations of this kind, and better yet, a series of straightforward, practical solutions which can significantly aid the tasks of the professional translator and laymen alike. This particular section makes this book an invaluable reference for anyone dedicated to translating, writing and reading biomedical texts. Equally useful is chapter seven containing recommended bibliography for translation. The appendices embellish the set of useful tools for translation of biomedical texts: appendix 1 – a table of basic units of the International System; appendix 2 – a conversion table of Spanish/English scientific units; and appendix 3 – exemplary translations in their original and proposed translation forms. The general bibliography is divided into three sections. The full reference data of the corpus analyzed and grouped according to text type provides complete information of the sources used, thus facilitating the quest for further information on any particular text. The list of reference works is extensive however, the inclusion of the latest works on this topic in future editions would enhance the work. Hot off the press volumes (see bibliography) include Gavoli (2005) for ESP teachers and learners, Thompson and Hunston (2006) for researchers, which concludes with Halliday´s views on the issues raised, Sampson and McCarthy (2006), and Widdowson (2005) for translators - linguists. Lastly, the dictionaries and manuals consulted are enumerated. This book is highly recommendable for anyone working with biomedical texts. It analyzes the discourse of these specialized patterns, and it serves as a handbook with guidelines for translation of biomedical texts in English and Spanish. Reviewed by Patricia Edwards Rokowski (Universidad de Extremadura) RESEÑAS / BOOK REVIEWS 182 IBÉRICA 13 [2007]: 181-194 10 RESEÑAS.qxp 6/4/07 09:11 Página 182 RESEÑAS / BOOK REVIEWS IBÉRICA 13 [2007]: 181-194 183 Gavoli, L. (2005). Exploring Cor- pora for ESP Learning. Amster- dam/Philadelphia: John Ben- jamins. Paltridge, B. (2005). Genre, Frames and Writing in Research Settings. Amsterdam/ Philadel- phia: John Benjamins. Sampson, G. R. & D. McCarthy. (2006). Corpus Linguistics: Readings in a Widening Disci- pline. London: Continuum Inter- national Publishing Group Ltd. Swales, J. (1990). Genre Analy- sis. English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Thompson, G. & S. Hunston. (2006). System and Corpus: Ex- ploring Connections. London: Equinox Publishing Ltd. Widdowson, H.G. (2005). Text, Context, Pretext: Critical Issues in Discourse Analysis. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. REFERENCES 10 RESEÑAS.qxp 6/4/07 09:11 Página 183