Episode Two: Language Matters
We might be biased, but we stand firm in the belief that Ukrainian is the most beautiful, lyrical, clever, and nuanced language on Planet Earth. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the first things that diaspora Ukrainians lost when mass migration swept them far from Ukraine in the first half of the 20th century. This is especially evident in Canada, where there are more than 1.3 million Ukrainians but only around 10% speak the language. For Ukrainian Canadians like podcast host Sabrina Rani Furminger whose families lost the language along the way, it’s not uncommon for them to experience a sense of loss and yearning where Ukrainian is concerned. But many diaspora Ukrainians are finding the language again. They’re reclaiming it as a form of resistance, to heal intergenerational trauma, and to strengthen their connection to their Ukrainianness.
Recently, Sabrina invited Tetyana Denford to the podcast to speak with her about this most beautiful of languages. Tetyana is a brilliant Ukrainian American author and freelance writer who is equally skilled in both English and Ukrainian. She’s a translator for Frontline News, has written and edited articles for magazines in New York and the UK, and is featured in The Telegraph and The New York Times. Tetyana’s first novel, Motherland (which was relaunched by Bookouture and Hachette UK as The Child of Ukraine), was inspired in her бабуся’s storied life, love, and losses. Additionally, Tetyana worked as a translator on the Academy Award winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, and earlier this year, her latest translation work with Frontline PBS was released as 2000 Meters to Andriivka.
In this very special episode, Tetyana reflects on her own relationship with the Ukrainian language, how she feels when she encounters russian in the wild, and what we lose when we lose our language.
*Tetyana’s favourite Ukrainian word: розчарована (disenchanted/unimpressed).
*Tetyana’s favourite Ukrainian saying: як горохом до стіни (“like throwing peas at the wall” when talking to someone and it’s useless to try and reason with them).
RELATED LINKS
https://www.tetyanadenford.com/
Trailer for 20 Days in Mariupol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H_Fg_5x4ME
Trailer for 2000 Meters to Andriivka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CirdrDSrjSQ
SOCIAL MEDIA
https://x.com/TetyanaUkrainka
https://www.instagram.com/tetyanawrites/
https://www.threads.com/@tetyanawrites
https://www.instagram.com/UkrainianRootsPodcast
http://www.instagram.com/sabrinarmf
https://www.threads.com/@sabrinarmf
https://x.com/sabrinarmf
CREDITS
Host and Executive Producer: Sabrina Rani Furminger
Editor: Dexter Pullyblank
Editorial Department Lead: Simon Furminger
Consultant: Olha Byrledianu
Producer: Paul Furminger
Original music: Vyacheslav Sarancha, Snow Music Studio
