Cuppa with Dorota

Q: Could you tell us a little about your background?

My name is Dorota Bogdaniuk and I'm Polish-American. I became a translator after moving to Europe. I grew up in the United States and didn't speak Polish at home, even though my family is originally from Poland. I only began learning the language properly when I spent five years living there.

During my second year at university in the UK, I took a module on cross-cultural communication, which introduced me to the fascinating world of translation. I qualified as an interpreter with Dacorum Community Action in December 2009, and by June 2010, I had passed my Institute of Linguists exam in London.

Although I had an accent, I discovered I was quite good at translation. I was quick, and because I had to learn Polish by constantly back-translating into English, I developed a deep understanding of both languages and their structures.

Q: Do you mainly work into English now?

Yes, I mainly translate from Polish into English. When interpreting, I work in both directions, but I find I'm quicker and more efficient when going into English. I can certainly work the other way too, but it takes longer — and that's not always practical with tight deadlines.

Q: Polish seems like a tricky language — is it difficult to learn or translate?

Absolutely. It's a challenging language to learn. There are lots of exceptions and quirks — like double negatives, which are grammatically acceptable in Polish. There's also gender-based declension, which doesn't exist in English, and even numbers change based on gender. It's complex.

It took me about nine months to become fluent enough to understand the news. When I first started learning at 14, I didn't grasp much. Now that I'm fluent, translating from Polish into English is easier — but those small details, like double negatives or ambiguous structures, can still throw you.

Q: Any funny stories from when you were learning Polish?

So many! I once said "in the sinka" instead of "w zlewie". I just added Polish endings to English words, which is how I taught myself in the beginning. Back then, this was seen as sloppy or incorrect. Ironically, now it's considered fashionable. Polish magazines and gossip columns often use anglicisms with Polish endings.

Looking back, it makes me laugh — and my mum and I still joke about it. But it's a little sad too. When I visit Poland now, I hear teenagers using the same kind of hybrid language, and it's clear that traditional vocabulary is slipping away a bit.

Q: How important is cultural understanding in translation?

Very important. Just because a phrase is grammatically correct doesn't mean someone would actually say it. I adjust my tone depending on who I'm speaking to — a Polish speaker, a Russian, or an English speaker — because cultural expectations differ.

For example, Polish maintains more distance in speech. Using someone's first name or informal pronouns isn't as common as it is in English. When I first started school in Poland, I used the informal "you" with a teacher — the shocked looks I got still make me laugh now!

Q: If you could design the ideal translation degree, what would you include?

First: Just speaking a language doesn't make you a translator. You need strong cognitive flexibility, a solid understanding of terminology, and the ability to switch codes quickly and accurately.

Key components I'd include:

• Introduction of a second language — even at a basic level
• Emphasis on cultural studies — to better convey tone, register, and nuance
• Encouragement to specialise — let students focus on subject areas that match their strengths
• A practical placement year — real-world experience with freelancing basics like VAT, invoicing, and business management

And above all, continuous learning and perseverance are a translator's greatest allies.