The famous TV series by David Lynch and Mark Frost was in need of German subtitles for a large streaming provider and I was honored to be among the translators to subtitle the first season.

With Twin Peaks being a series that thrives on artistic shots, the breathtaking North American landscape and the idiosyncrasies of its inhabitants, it was very important to maintain this overall vibe in the German translation and not fall for something that is known for „overlocalizing“: An FBI agent is an FBI agent, not a German „Ermittler“, a Highschool is a Highschool and not a German „Gymnasium“ and a „Malt“ is not a „Malzbier“ when served as a milkshake.

One of my supreme rules for subtitling and localization in general is: Never underestimate your target audience. I’m not here to explain the world to German speakers – I just make information accessible.

Or as the Log Lady would say: „Sometime ideas, like men, jump up and say ‚hello‘. They introduce themselves, these ideas, with words. Are they words? These ideas speak so strangely. All that we see in this world is based on someone’s ideas. Some ideas are destructive, some are constructive. Some ideas can arrive in the form of a dream. I can say it again: some ideas arrive in the form of a dream.“