Life & Language: May 2014 Linguist Spotlight

We are incredibly proud to focus this month on Zoryana Dorak for her consistent contribution to the TLC team. Zoryana has partnered with TLC for two years. She has been a reliable source of high quality, timely Ukrainian and Russian translations for a client that certifies documentation for medical accreditation. A native and resident of Lviv, Ukraine, Zoryana is classically trained in language, with experience in German, Polish, Italian and English, as well. We took some time to ask Zoryana some questions and, of course, learned more about her life experiences.

TLC: How did your personal journey begin?

Zoryana Dorak: I studied at general secondary school, and English of most pupils was poor. I even cannot explain why, but when I (was in the 2nd grade), I decided to become a translator. In the beginning I had private lessons. Then I started purchasing different specialized books and (began) English language courses. I really enjoyed learning English, reading English books, and speaking English, especially with natives. When I was 14, I went to the United States for one month, and it was the first amazing language experience for me. It was the first time I overcame the language barrier in full. Then I (enrolled in a) university. I have a Master’s Degree in Translation and Political Science.

TLC: What is your language background (for instance: schooling, learning other languages, special projects that sparked your career as a translator)?

ZD: I visited the Austrian Summer School and spoke German fluently. However, currently I mostly deal with English. In the beginning I started working with national translation agencies and then found out there were special international translation websites. I registered on Proz as a full member and I have enjoyed all the benefits of this translation community for 5 years. I have worked as an in-house translator/interpreter at an auditing company for 8 years, and this experience helped me understand the peculiarities of translations related to audit, accounting, and law. I have translated a great deal of financial statements, accounting policies, and legal stuff. Honestly speaking, each project is of great importance to me, since I learn new things and enrich my experience this way.

TLC: How long have you partnered with TLC, and do you have any favorite projects?

ZD: I have (been working) with TLC for 2 years. You cannot even imagine how much I appreciate my (work) with TLC. This is truly my favorite client!!! All translation-related issues have always been sorted out very quickly. Besides, there have never been any delays in payment. The project managers I have worked with are great! They always reply to all my emails very quickly and are very helpful. Regarding the projects, I have primarily dealt with the translation of official documents. However, hopefully the translations in other fields will come in my language pairs, soon!

TLC: What is your favorite type of translation (for instance: technical, advertising, classical and beyond)?

ZD: I enjoy translations related to audit, accounting, and law. As I have completed a lot of similar translations, I feel comfortable with projects in these fields. One more important thing is that I never take on projects I am not 100% confident in translating. In my mind, this is a prerequisite for mutually beneficial cooperation with any translation agency.

TLC: When you’re not providing stellar linguistic creations, how do you spend your free time?

ZD: From the 2nd (grade) to the 11th (grade) at school, I (participated in) track-and-field athletics (my mother is a coach of track-and-field athletics). In addition to this sport, I like basketball, volleyball, and tennis. Currently I attend fitness classes three times a week. Further, I like reading books and travelling.

TLC: You live in Western Ukraine, a place that has drawn the world’s focus, lately. If you would, please reflect on the experience of being a person living in Ukraine in the midst of what is happening there:

ZD: I live in Lviv, Western Ukraine. Most people, who gathered in Maidan, were from Western Ukraine, especially Lviv and the Lviv region. The last six months have been  really awful in Ukraine, since we have been distressed for all this time because of peaceful protests, which our ex-president and a lot of deputies were not ready to take seriously. They did not want to listen to people. They just wanted to stay in power and do nothing for the Ukrainian people; only for themselves and their relatives. The worst thing is that many people died and many became disabled. The Ukrainians thought that Maidan would end  and all the necessary measures would be taken by the new government to improve the situation. However, on March 1, Russia started an official war against Ukraine and violated the Budapest Memorandum. I can say positively that nowadays, thanks to revolutionary changes in Ukraine, many people became the witnesses of a new level of social relations not built on control, but on self-organization and initiative.

I think that Ukrainians will do their best to save the integrity of their state, to rebuff the invasion and to build it based on European values. We have all the potential because Ukraine is Europe.

TLC: What role, if any, does your interaction with that experience play in your experience as a linguist?

ZD: Some years ago many people did not know that Ukraine was a separate state and that it was not a part of Russia. Nowadays, more and more people find out about Ukraine, its people, culture, and traditions. Hopefully, more and more people will visit Ukraine, including the City of Lviv with lots of architectural monuments, and I’ll be able to tell them many interesting things. I believe that Ukrainian language will become more popular, including in terms of translations.

It’s also safe to say that we appreciate Zoryana for her consistent, high quality work and positive attitude.

“Zoryana always meets deadlines, provides accurate translations that require little-to-no editing and works with a flexible mindset,” one of TLC’s project managers said. “Even though I understand that she has had to face worrisome circumstances in her surroundings, she has still not missed a deadline. It’s a true pleasure to have her on our team, and I look forward to working with her on many future projects.”

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