Dear Perozziello


Yesterday I received an email that started like this.


In the translation industry, we have to deal with people from all over the world. Yes, many languages and cultures come together, but we should pay attention to a couple of things.

Before we write to a person, we should try to figure out from their CV, social networks or previous emails which way to address them.

Here are the greetings I like:

Dear Francesca (my favourite)
Dear Ms Perozziello
Dear Mrs Perozziello
Dear Francesca Perozziello

A couple of very common greetings in our industry:
Dear Translator
Dear Resource

But please, do not write to me
Dear Perozziello

I love translating nature documentaries and films.


Like many translators, I am a crazy cat lady. Apart from cats, I like animals and nature in general. 

That is why when a client asks me to translate something about wildlife, I am always more than happy to accept! 
Don't be deceived by pretty little faces and soft paws!

Translating nature can be tricky for two reasons:

1. First, you have to master a specific vocabulary: animal sounds, plants, and animal species have different names in each language, so you have to pay attention.

2. Some documentaries are incredibly poetic, so you cannot translate them as if they were instructions manuals.

Do you like to translate nature-related content?

What if we could subtitle our everyday lives?

It may sound strange, but real-life subtitles could be incredibly useful sometimes.

​ As an audiovisual translator, I spend many hours each week subtitling videos, and I know how important they are. Subtitles can make content accessible all over the world and help people to better understand different cultures.

Song translation is such a challenging task!


You cannot translate the lyrics word-for-word, otherwise, you’ll kill the song.

Rhythm is important too, but you can’t always find the proper rhymes in your native language, so you’ll have to adapt the text.

Creativity is crucial. You will need to arouse the same emotions conveyed by the source text.

One thing I find tricky is the Italian translation of genders. English, for example, most of the time does not refer to a specific gender. In Italian, the issue is more complex.

A perfect example is “I Want to Break Free”, a song by my favourite band, Queen. The lyrics say:

“I want to break free from your lies
You’re so self-satisfied
I don’t need you”

In English, the sentence may have been written for either a man or a woman. The Italian translator, however, has to choose depending on many factors, such as the background of the song.
John Deacon, the bassist, wrote the song; does that mean he wrote it for his wife/girlfriend? Yes, it can be.

So, how can I translate "you're so self-satisfied" into Italian?

Sei così soddisfatta di te stesso
Sei così soddisfatto di te stessa

Just like with poetry, readers and translators give their interpretations. Plus, songs reach many people with different stories and experiences.

To avoid referring to a specific gender, the Italian translator could rephrase the sentence, but you can't always do that. 

What do you think about lyrics translation?

You have dreams of glory.


I am pretty sure it happens to you as well.
After delivering a project you are particularly proud of, you find yourself thinking how far this will take you.

And that's when the mental movie begins. A famous TV host, in a David Lettermanish style, invites you to talk about your personal story and background.

You have the chance to talk about a translator's daily life, their difficulties and achievements, as well as how much they contribute to everyone's lives.

Okay, maybe it is a bit too much, but I love mental movies. I think they are an innocent way to reward ourselves after completing a challenging task.

Do you win Academy Awards and Nobel prizes in your wildest dreams?