Zwei Jahre Krieg gegen die Ukraine

February 23, 2024

Zweiter Blick: A–Ja: Wie übersetzt sich "Krieg"?

Two years after the full Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Leipzig University Library, American Space Leipzig, and DAIS hosted a panel conversation with the Ukrainian author of Wörter im Krieg, Ostap Slyvynsky, and German translator of the book Maria Weissenböck. Dr. Nina Weller joined them as moderator. The event accompanied the exhibition “EINBLICK #3: СЛОВНИК ВІЙНИ – WÖRTERBUCH DES KRIEGES” at the library, curated by Dr. Sophia Manns-Süssbrich, who briefly introduced the speakers. About 60 participants, including Ukrainians, Americans, and Germans joined for the discussion at Albertina Library’s lecture hall.

Ostap Slyvynsky, who traveled to Leipzig all the way from Kyiv, explained the purpose and importance of his book and his role as a collector rather than a writer. He and Maria Weissenböck read a few excerpts from the book and told personal anecdotes from people he met early on during the war in Ukraine. Maria Weissenböck explained her connection to the topic, her approach to translating the book as faithfully as possible, and the challenges she faced along the way. The event concluded with two comments from the audience in Ukrainian about language, the war, and their appreciation for the book.