Blog

A video game translator is a professional translator with specific skills and a passion for gaming. But how does the job of a traditional translator differ from that of a video game translator? What does a video game translator do? Video game translators have the (tricky) task of making video…

Translation techniques are approaches to translating texts that can profoundly influence the final result. Translators usually choose the best method for the job based on the distance or proximity of the target and source languages. How to effectively translate texts from Italian to English English and Italian are two very…

Simultaneous interpreting is a type of speech translation that requires a lot of skill. It can be performed with or without the use of equipment, but never for too long as it is extremely tiring. Simultaneous interpreting: what is it and when is it needed? Simultaneous interpreters are tasked with…

There are three types of translation, each of which performs a particular function. Knowing the differences between them can help you develop a more conscious approach to translation and the creation and circulation of cultural content. Intralingual Translation Intralingual translation involves explaining a word’s meaning with words in the same…

Translation typically involves converting a text into a new language, which we call the target language. We don’t often talk about back translation, and when we do, we usually talk about how useful it can be, or its potential problems. What is it used for? Back translation is the exact…

Language certifications are international qualifications that certify language skills. They are internationally recognised and comparable. In addition, they can be obtained through traditional academic channels or self-study. What is a language certification? A language certification is a document certifying your proficiency in a foreign language. It is an official and…

These days, companies use newsletters as a direct marketing tool. Businesses tend to use a sales-based approach to target a selected audience interested in services, products and information, and to advertise to them via a newsletter. What is a newsletter? A newsletter is an informative email that is sent to…

These days, having an international online shop can be a promising investment. The profit margins are attractive but it is important to learn how to navigate the complex legal, logistical, and bureaucratic practices governing this area of trade. International eCommerce: requirements and regulations The first step you need to take…

Certified translations are performed by dedicated certified translators, i.e., professionals with the necessary expertise to ensure the translation fully corresponds to the original text. There is no association or register of certified translators in Italy, which means that you need to follow a special process instead. Certified business translations: when…

A good audiovisual translator must be very familiar with at least two languages and cultures. Their job is not dissimilar to that of a cultural mediator. What is audiovisual translation? Audiovisual translation involves translating audiovisual dialogue, i.e., TV shows, cartoons, documentaries, and films. Check out the main features of audiovisual…

International companies often translate press releases when they need to communicate with international markets. Although the official international business language is English, companies often need to translate press releases into several languages. Doing so ensures that the local press can use the information and convey it correctly to the general…

Subtitles are key to making sure video content is effective. Thanks to subtitles, we can watch audiovisual content without sound, even when we don’t understand the language spoken in the video. Subtitles need to be effective to do their job properly. To do so, they must respect specific timing, methods,…

Technical translations are extremely helpful to millions of consumers and users worldwide. Technical documents include instruction manuals, product descriptions, and specialised texts for industry experts. Translating these texts requires extreme accuracy, and there are obviously a few critical issues to avoid. When is it useful to translate technical documents? Translating…

There are lots of reasons why you might need totranslate contracts into English. It is an extremely delicate task if you want to ensure your contracts maintain their legal validity abroad. Here are our top tips for the perfect translation. When to translate contracts into English Contracts need to be…

Translating reviews written by customers staying at a hotel may seem redundant but can present a lot of opportunities. Here are all the reasons why you should pay close attention to your business or hotel reviews. Why is it so important to translate reviews? As businesses and accommodation facilities such…

In recent years, consumers have been paying more attention to the ingredients in their beauty products. Today we prefer to purchase safe, organic, and non-hazardous cosmetic products. That’s why it’s particularly important to learn how to interpret cosmetic ingredients, also referred to as INCIs. Correct INCI translations are therefore essential…

Software localisation is essential if you are planning to sell your software abroad.  This is a complex task that should only be performed by a specialised professional. What software localisation entails In practice, software localisation involves modifying an interface for use by users who speak a different language to the…

Working as a subtitler is becoming more and more common due to the large quantity of international audiovisual content that has become available thanks to online streaming. Professional subtitlers are tasked with making audiovisual content that is not dubbed available to international audiences. What subtitlers do You might think that…

The multitude of software available for translating video dialogues is easy to find on the web. Fast, efficient and, above all, easy to use, this software appears to be the final solution for instantly translating videos, but is that really the case? Video translation software: how does it work? Video…

What affects the price of a voice-over service? These are the things to consider when you are looking to purchase a voice-over service for your audiovisual content. What affects the cost of a voice-over service? In Italy, there are enforced standard prices for voice-over services which are adopted by professionals…

Financial statements are official documents that certain companies must draw up and publish at set intervals. Their purpose is to enable authorities to get a clear, accurate, and truthful picture of a business’s activities during a given financial period. The following entities must draw up financial statements in English: Companies…

Translating a WordPress site is an extremely common process these days; after all, a large proportion of websites are built using this content management system (CMS). It is not a risk-free process, however. Here is how to avoid making blunders and damaging your site’s ranking. What is a WordPress website?…

A website may contain duplicate content for a variety of reasons, not always involving ‘content theft’. Here are some of the causes of this problem and how best to manage it. Duplicate content: what is it? Duplicate content is the same text content appearing, unaltered, on two or more web…

Translating for cosmetics requires specific technical expertise in the industry and solid experience of marketing and advertising translation. Here are some of the main challenges that this type of translation poses, as well as the pitfalls to avoid for a flawless piece of work. Translating for the cosmetics industry: which…

Using video SEO has been a must since videos became the most widespread, the most clicked and the most popular form of media content on the web. Search engine optimisation is a complex operation which takes account of a vast array of factors and needs to be tailored to each…

Effective calls to action, in any language, are those capable of convincing a website user to carry out a specific action (or ‘conversion’). What is a call to action? A call to action (CTA) is a few words normally used as a prompt to click a hypertext link. In practice,…

Tour-guide interpreting is an extremely versatile interpreting technique that can be used in situations when traditional interpreting booths simply aren’t an option. Efficient, versatile but above all cheap and easy to use, tour-guide interpreting is one of the new frontiers of interpreting. What is tour-guide interpreting? Tour-guide interpreting essentially means…

Commercial translations are fundamental tools for companies operating in international markets. This type of translation is vital if you’re going to ensure suppliers, business partners, employees and customers operating abroad can navigate your website and product pages. Some readers might be thinking that commercial translations have something to do with…

Voice-over and dubbing are not the same thing, although people often get them confused. They are two different techniques that involve superimposing the voice of a voice actor onto a video. In addition, there are also two different approaches to voice-over work that non-professionals are often unaware of. The difference…

Desktop publishing has completely revolutionised the way we produce editorial content. Using this new approach, which is much more practical than previous techniques, creating layouts for editorial content has never been easier, faster, or cheaper. Desktop publishing is used for a wide range of content and purposes, but it essentially…

Starting a business overseas is something lots of Italian entrepreneurs would love to do. The lack of bureaucracy and specific incentives are just some of the top selling points. But which countries make it easiest to start doing business abroad? How do you establish a company abroad? Founding a company…

Corporate language training involves teaching employees a new foreign language. There are a lot of reasons why language learning can be useful. Let’s take a look at a few together. What is corporate language training? Choosing which language to teach employees depends on the unique needs of a company, its…

Literal translation is a translation technique that is strictly necessary for some sectors. Although it may appear simple at first glance, there are a few pitfalls you should avoid. Here’s how to produce the perfect literal translation and when it might be better to adopt a free translation approach instead.…

A company blog is a valid online tool for generating traffic to your company website. Translating your company blog is even more important if you operate in an international market and need to access a multilingual target audience. Here's why. What is a company blog? A company blog is a…

Translating product descriptions correctly is a key step towards creating a successful online shop and winning the trust of your customers. What is a product description? A product description is a short piece of text (approx. 200 words) containing information relating to a particular product. Users rely on these descriptions…

The food sector is governed by very strict regulations. As such, food label translations must contain certain elements and follow fixed formulas. Translating food labels: why it matters Exporting food products abroad is extremely profitable for the Italian economy. Italian food and drink products are well known, appreciated and consumed…

Language mediation has become increasingly important as international relations have expanded. Language mediation is a very complex task. There are several aspects to the job, which requires a deep understanding of the cultures of the countries involved.   Language mediation: a definition Language and cultural mediation involve the ability to…

Negotiation interpreters perform the delicate task of mediation between two entities (e.g., two companies) interested in reaching a business agreement. You can read more about their duties and responsibilities below. What is a negotiation interpreter? A negotiation interpreter is a professional interpreter who specialises in a particular form of dialogue…

How do you make a foreign word readable? What are we doing when we write the correct pronunciation of a foreign word in the margins of a book? Why are foreign names spelt in so many different ways? The answer to these questions is transliteration. The meaning of the word…

Online proofreaders are an extremely practical solution for proofreading texts of different lengths. We are talking about special software that can scan texts for grammatical and syntactic errors and provide the correct alternative. Online proofreading tools There are several web-based text proofreading programmes out there, and they all boast different…

When it comes to specialised (or specialist) translation, it’s all about precision and the accuracy of terminology. Specialised texts tend to be written for specialised audiences or experts in a particular field. As a result, these highly competent readers can spot translation errors in a heartbeat. Specialised translations: a definition…

Hreflang tags are necessary attributes that improve the recognition of multilingual websites by search engines and facilitate their correct indexing. Learning when and how to implement hreflang tags correctly on multilingual websites is a key step towards reaching international users who might be interested in browsing your website in different…

A translation agency can be a valuable means of support when companies and professionals require translation services to establish international relations with their customers. A good translation is an excellent business card that can win the trust of new customers, resulting in the expansion of business to new countries. What…

Conference interpreters have the task of facilitating communication between a speaker, i.e., a person giving a talk, and a foreign audience. This role is increasingly in demand, especially due to the new professional opportunities offered by this specialised sector. MICE is a fast-growing sector MICE is a specific kind of…

E-learning is the final frontier of the training world. E-learning platforms are interactive, extremely user-friendly, and can be moulded to suit any topic. And that’s not all: they’re also revolutionising the business training world. What is e-learning? E-learning involves teaching individuals using video streaming and/or videoconferencing systems. E-learning helps trainers…

A wide range of factors can influence where a company is based. For example, many companies choose their industrial location based on factors concerning production and business processes. These factors are in continuous evolution and make choosing a permanent industrial location a difficult and complex task. Over time, and with…

There are several steps involved in website localisation. Each step ensures that a company’s website is accessible to foreign users, giving them the impression that it was written in their native language. For example, if a website has been localised successfully, a French user will get the impression that a…

Do hotel translations have an impact on sales? There is only one right answer to this question: 100% yes. In fact, holiday homes and resorts thrive when they manage to attract international tourists and pitch themselves as important destinations to visit. It is therefore necessary to win over international customers…

Translating children’s literature is a particularly difficult task for translators, who need to mediate between the source and target language, and between the language spoken by adults (which they will be used to) and children. Given these difficulties, what sets apart a good children’s literature translation from a poor one?…

Restaurant translations should have all the characteristics of a good dish. They should be captivating, high in quality and not too complex. But where do you start, and why is it so important to produce quality menus, brochures and food industry translations? Restaurant menu translations: when dodging social media is…

Subtitles for people with hearing loss differ greatly from those made for other groups of people. Deaf people and people with hearing loss have different needs when it comes to audiovisual content and these needs must be kept in mind when producing or translating subtitles for them. But what are…

Audiovisual translation is a sector within the translation industry. If we were to define audiovisual translation, we would call it a form of translation that ‘transmits’ multimedia content (i.e., film, television, theatre and advertising) from one culture to another. Multimedia content is complex and normally comprises images, sounds, and verbal…

Translation techniques are strategies that allow professional translators to tackle common problems encountered in literary or commercial texts. They are often used in combination to produce a flowing and understandable text that is high in quality and can coherently convey the message and atmosphere of the source text. Literal translation…

Typesetting a book is a very intricate task requiring detailed technical knowledge, some of which has been passed down through generations since the first printing presses were invented back in the fifteenth century. But how do you typeset a novel? Or a poetry anthology? And what are the best fonts…

By “voice over”, we essentially mean an audio track that narrates the images on screen. By definition, the person narrating a video does not usually appear on screen. We’ve been used to hearing voice overs on nature documentaries and in adverts for decades. What’s the difference between a voice over…

Website rankings rely on search engine optimisation (SEO), which is performed on individual pages of a website. But is multilingual SEO really necessary? 100%. And there are several reasons why. What’s the point in multilingual SEO? Any company looking to approach an international market needs to know what multilingual SEO…

SEO copywriting plays a very important role in how search engines decide to rank websites. In fact, the term is used to describe the act of writing content that is considered relevant by search engines (and helpful to users). Search engines use a variety of parameters to evaluate the relevance…

Pharmaceutical translation is a highly sensitive field and incorrect translations of medical and pharmaceutical texts can risk directly impacting people’s health. Translators working in the pharmaceutical field take on a considerable amount of responsibility towards consumers and patients, as well as towards the manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and machinery.…

Software localisation is a complex task but a very necessary one, especially if you’re looking to expand the market of the software you want to sell. But what does it really mean to localise software and why is it so important? Localising software doesn’t just mean translating it A software…

Website localisation is a very powerful marketing tool that allows companies to connect with a huge number of potential customers living overseas. The meaning of localisation goes far beyond that of simple translation, as it often requires the complete reworking of a text from a cultural point of view. Since…

Patent translation is an extremely delicate task. The approval of an international patent can determine the financial success of an inventor, entrepreneur, or anyone who makes a living from their intellectual work. For a patent to be protected in other countries, a precise bureaucratic procedure must be followed. Once approved,…

A proofreader is a writer’s best friend. Proofreaders are tasked with finding and correcting typos and grammatical errors in a text. Do you really need to hire a proofreader before publishing a text? 100%, which is why proofreading is an extremely sought-after profession. What does proofreading actually involve? Proofreading is…

Catalogue translation is an extremely specialised field and is in great demand among companies operating in the international field. Catalogues allow brands to achieve a range of objectives, such as advertising products in detail and presenting an overall brand image and set of corporate values. They may seem somewhat perfunctory,…

The term “voiceover” is used to describe an off-screen voice in a film or TV series. Voiceovers often describe scenes with no dialogue, such as nature documentaries, for example, but they can also be used to describe or comment on a plot or storyline that has just unfolded or is…

Formal letters are required in some business situations and are written for a range of purposes.  To give some examples, you often write formal cover and motivation letters in English to attach to a CV for a vacancy or educational course, when you need to invite someone to an official…

How many ounces are there in 100 grams? This is a minor issue that most of us will have encountered when following an international recipe. The food and drink sector is an extremely specialised technical sector but it is rarely perceived as one. You might think you can improvise quantities,…

Translating comic books is no child’s play. Emerging comic book translators will know this all too well, and will often find themselves writing and rewriting translations featured in speech bubbles a hundred times before finding the perfect solution. So is translating comics any more difficult than translating books? The sectors…

The term “transcription” is used to describe the act of transcribing an audio file recorded during an event or conversation. The Italian word for transcription (sbobinatura) derives from the reels of magnetic tape used to record audio before it was transcribed. This term has remained in use in Italy even…

Telephone interpreting is a form of remote interpreting that some might refer to as “remote” or “agile” in the current climate. It is a type of service that can solve many of the logistical problems that come with working as an interpreter. With telephone interpreting, you need less time to…

Intellectual property is a right exercised by an author over a creation of the human intellect. You can claim the intellectual property rights of literary works and artworks as well as names and images, which are often used in the business world and can contribute significantly to building a brand.…

Deciding on a layout for your project is as important as creating the actual content. Precise page layouts help to showcase individual elements, highlight certain strengths, and aid an understanding of the project’s overall meaning. When devising an architectural or design project, you need to make sure the text is…

Chucotage is one of the oldest, most famous simultaneous interpreting techniques. The name of this technique literally means “whispering” and it involves absolutely no technical tools. How common is this type of interpreting nowadays, and how useful is it? All the pros of chuchotage Chuchotage is one of the cheapest…

The revision of a translated text undergoes various corrective phases carried out sequentially to fine-tune the end product on all levels. In general, there is always some confusion between editing, or “cross-checking” and proofreading: here we define them in detail and explain their specific uses. Editing: the correction of a…

Designing the layout for a book is an extremely complex operation, as it must ensure satisfactory compliance with all the requirements of the text and, at the same time, make it possible to create an object that meets the buyer’s expectations, also aesthetically speaking. Choosing the right layout is therefore…

The role of a content manager is vital when it comes to managing a website. Whoever is assigned this role is responsible for planning, organising and allocating content to be written and subsequently published online. Once published, said content must be constantly updated and eventually archived. Once upon a time,…

The web exists in parallel with our real lives and has developed its own language and code of conduct (or ‘netiquette’) over the years. Using the web every day does not necessarily mean that you’re familiar with all web language. In fact, it’s entirely possible for ‘normal’ Internet users to…

Translating into or out of a dialect is no mean feat. Dialects tend to tell us a lot more about a country’s history, culture and society than its official language(s). Dialects are also able to express infinite shades of meaning, some of which are bound to get lost in translation.…

Localisation is used to adapt a translation so that it can effectively communicate with a different culture, so much so that it might even be confused with an original text. Of course, localisation is not only applied to written texts. All media requiring translation can, and often must, be localised,…

Subtitling is in very high demand at the moment, thanks primarily to the success of platforms such as Netflix. The content available on streaming sites reaches millions and millions of people around the world, all of whom speak dozens of different languages. A lot of this content is made available…

Conference interpreting has played a key role in world history and has undergone some profound changes over the last two hundred years. (more…)

Medical translation belongs to the broad field of technical translation and is one of the most difficult areas to get into. The main difficulties that come with medical translation are usually to do with the very high specificity of the terms used and the significant variation in terminology from one…

Video game translation is quite a niche area of the profession, but that being said, it’s vital when looking to successfully market a game abroad. It would be absolutely unthinkable to release a video game that could only be played in one language, given that the international gaming community is…

Literary translation involves translating texts intended for publication. We must first answer the million dollar question: what’s the difference between a literary translator and a translator who works for the publishing sector?

Translating manuals is one of the many branches of professional translation and comes with a unique set of difficulties. But what are they and why is it important to manage them correctly?

Lots of foreign citizens apply for Italian citizenship each year, and the application process entails the translation and legalisation of certain documents. But which documents need translating and how do you request a translation that’s valid for legal use?

Sworn translations give translated documents the same legal validity as the original document. The apostille translation process is not altogether that different from the sworn translation process and is only used in some foreign countries.

Over the last twenty years, Europe has opened its borders, adopted a single currency and grown its tourist information network exponentially. As such, requests for translations into various European languages have grown dramatically, as has the demand for tourist translations to and from non-European languages.

Criminal record translations are usually required when applying for residence or work permits in abroad, as well as for a range of other legal practices.

In principle, scientific translation is one of the most complex fields of professional translation. Unlike literary texts, scientific language must be precise and leaves no room for interpretation.

Interpreting is a fundamental branch of translation. It acts on what we call “living language,” spoken by people on a daily basis for a wide range of reasons.

Translating foreign documents such as marriage certificates is key to their use in other countries. However, merely translating documents does not validate them for use in Italy.

The number of financial translation requests has grown dramatically in Italy in recent years. Much of Italy’s economic strength derives from its international trade relations. As a consequence, various types of financial translation are necessary to help facilitate business.

Digital marketing has changed dramatically over the years. Its development has undoubtedly been aided by the rapid expansion of the mobile web and the increasing number of people using websites to buy goods or services, or to look up information about a product or company.

Working as an interpreter is a courageous choice. In reality, it’s an incredibly stimulating profession and often involves learning new things, meeting people from all walks of life and forging professional relationships with individuals, companies and institutions.

Translating and legalising documents are two of the most complex tasks a translator is likely to tackle. The reasons vary but often come down to complex technical jargon and the lengthy bureaucratic processes required to attribute legal value to a translated foreign document.

The task of translating poetry has given rise to countless musings on how best to translate poems into different languages over the centuries. The ultimate goal of poetry translators is to convey the original poem’s intent, meaning and style as faithfully as possible.

Interpreting is a type of translation work that is done orally on the spot. Unlike translators, interpreters have very little time at their disposal and must provide live translations that allow foreign parties to understand each other.

Sworn translations allow foreign documents to carry the same legal value both within and outside the country in which they were issued.

Carrying out negotiations in one's mother tongue involves substantial communicative and diplomatic effort. And when the negotiation is due to take place in a foreign language with the help of an interpreter, things get even more complicated.

Working as a translator in the digital world: how have things developed and how will professional translation work change in the near future?

The fashion industry is complex and continuously evolving, which means that specialised professionals need to be competent, reliable and up-to-date...