English with Kirsty – episode 300
Combining language skills with a love of animals 1/2
You can listen to episode 300 here:
I’ve been planning this episode for a while, but what better topic for episode 300 than one that combines two of my favourite things – languages and animals.
I wanted to have a conversation with language professionals who’ve integrated their interest in animals into their work.I found four guests to explore this topic with me and the episode is going to be in two parts. The other part is coming soon, but in this conversation with Ruth, Silvia, and Isabel, we talked about:
- My guests’ stories – how they came into the language field and some of their animal-related projects
- How we can use language intentionally, especially when talking about animals and how we relate to them
- How to stay up-to-date with industry news and changing language in their various fields
- Some of the special animals and the role they’ve played for my guesrs, including whether those animals are present online
- Advice for translators and interpreters who want to specialise in content related to animals
I had a lot of fun with this conversation! Thank you to my guests for sharing your advice and your stories.
Who are my guests?
This is part one of two. Today you will meet Isabel, Silvia, and Ruth.
Isabel Melo
Isabel is a Portuguese healthcare translator with a veterinary background and a dog owner for over 20 years. Her love for animals led her to pursue three years of Veterinary Medicine studies, but she realised her true calling was bridging the communication gap within Life Sciences, which led her to study Translation. Today, she leverages her clinical foundation to “speak the language” of both professionals and pet owners, specializing in veterinary content where precision meets passion. This is Isabel’s LinkedIn Profile.
Silvia Romagnoli
Silvia is a language professional based in Italy. She holds a Master’s degree in Foreign Languages from the University of Bologna and works as a freelance translator and English language trainer, helping clients communicate effectively across languages and cultures. Over the years, she has worked as an interpreter for judges at international dog shows, combining her linguistic expertise with a long-standing love for animals. Previously, she has also accompanied students on language stays in the UK, Ireland and Malta, supporting them in real-life international environments. You can find out more about Silvia on Silvia’s LinkedIn profile or on her website.
Ruth Martinez
Ruth is a Spanish translator and transcreator working from English, French, Italian and Portuguese, whose work is deeply shaped by her commitment to animal protection and value-driven causes. She helps ethical organisations struggling with inconsistent communication to share their message clearly across languages, so they can reach more people, build trust, secure more funding and grow their impact. You can find out more on Ruth’s LinkedIn profile, We also talked about Ruth’s new website in the episode, so if you want to see it and also see the pictures of Ruth’s dogs, you can find find Ruth’s website here.
How you can get in touch with me
I love to hear from my listeners! If you have any comments or questions, you can contact me using my contact form.
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