Online language translator programs can be tempting to the genealogist who wishes to correspond with famiglia in Italy. Here's a good explanation (from JO on the PIE mailing list) of why you shouldn't depend entirely on the language translator web sites and programs for accuracy.

..."I can tell you from personal experience...on the whole the translations are pretty worthless.  I send letters constantly to Italy.  My cousins BEG for the translations because they think they are HYSTERICAL. They have also said that if I didn't write in English, they would have no idea what I was talking about.  Let me give you 2 tiny examples.  One time I asked if Gino had a blood transfusion...the translation came out.. "Did they replace his soul?"  Another time I said Sam was in good spirits.  It came out.. "Sam is a good ALCOHOL."

I speak and read and understand Italian, but it takes me a long time to write in Italian so I used the various sites.  Without question...they are all pretty bad.  I can catch the obvious mistakes...but now I just send them whatever the translation says because they say the translations are uproariously funny!  JO"