A Cuppa with Dorota – Our Polish Linguist of the Month

Each month, in our mission to explore languages and connect with the people who bring them to life, we sit down for a chat with one of our translators. March flew in quickly, and this month we’ve turned our attention to Polish.

We’re delighted to introduce Dorota Bogdaniuk, a bilingual Polish–English linguist who has been working with us for over three years. Dorota mainly handles Polish into English assignments, especially in the legal and life sciences sectors. She’s proven to be a trusted and skilled partner — and while we could only chat via Skype this time, we still managed to enjoy a rich conversation.

P.S. I really enjoy having proper conversations like this — so much warmer than those “cold” email threads!

Q: Dorota, thanks for joining us! Could you tell us a little about your background?

Dorota:
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. Ironically, when I arrived, I was told my Polish wasn’t good enough to be of any real use.

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 and how meaning shifts across languages. In my third year, I studied interpreting and translation in more depth and qualified as an interpreter with Dacorum Community Action in December 2009. By June 2010, I had passed my Institute of Linguists exam in London.

Although I had an accent, I discovered that I was actually 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.

That intense learning process paid off — I became the youngest person to earn A-levels in Poland at 17, and I completed my university degree there by 20. That experience sparked a passion. I realised I was helping people and learning constantly — no two projects are ever the same, and that’s what makes it so engaging.

Q: Do you mainly work into English now?

Dorota:
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 — especially all those consonants! Is it difficult to learn or translate?

Dorota:
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. That was a big milestone.

Declensions can be tricky!

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. You have to slow down and make sure you’re interpreting the original meaning correctly before translating it.

Another challenge is the difference in legal systems. Some legal terms or concepts in Polish simply don’t exist in English. During my training, I was taught that if a term doesn’t exist, you should explain it. But with legal documents, you can’t add lengthy footnotes. You need to be clear and concise, while still accurately conveying the meaning.

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

Dorota:
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. Another time, I said “celebracje” for “celebrations” instead of the proper words “uroczystość” or “impreza”.

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. So, unintentionally, I was ahead of the trend!

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?

Dorota:
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!

Even when translating, understanding the setting is crucial. American English tends to be more direct. British English is more subtle. Polish, while direct, still maintains formality. Cultural nuance helps you choose the right register.

That said, you don’t have to live in a country to understand its culture — but you do need to immerse yourself. For example, Misha Glenny, the author of McMafia, isn’t Slavic but understands those cultures deeply through journalism and study.

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

Dorota:
First, I’d highlight something we touched on earlier — 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.

My Master’s degree focused heavily on literature and philosophy — lots of creative work like Alice in Wonderland, which didn’t suit me. I’m more interested in medical or legal translation, where I can draw on my background in philology, politics, business, and law.

Here’s what I’d include in a translation course:

• Introduction of a second language — even at a basic level. I studied Polish and English but would have appreciated some Russian due to its similarities.
• Emphasis on cultural studies — to better convey tone, register, and nuance.
• Encouragement to specialise — let students focus on subject areas that match their strengths and interests.
• A practical placement year — real-world experience is essential. Translators should graduate with an understanding of freelancing basics like VAT, invoicing, business management, negotiation, and timekeeping.

And above all, I believe that continuous learning and perseverance are a translator’s greatest allies.

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