Mykola Lukash, one of Ukraine’s most renowned translators

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Mykola Lukash (1919-1988) stands as a towering figure in Ukrainian translation history, known for his extraordinary linguistic talent and dedication to enriching Ukrainian culture through masterful literary translations. He possessed an almost mythical command of languages, reportedly being fluent in two dozen languages and capable of reading works in over a hundred more.

His most celebrated achievement is the Ukrainian translation of Goethe’s ‘Faust,’ considered a masterpiece that captures both the philosophical depth and poetic brilliance of the original. What made Lukash’s translations exceptional was his ability to maintain the stylistic features of the original while creating text that felt naturally Ukrainian, often drawing from folk traditions and dialectal richness.

Despite facing persecution during the Soviet era for his “excessive use of Ukrainian language resources” and deviation from official translation doctrine, Lukash continued his work with unwavering dedication. His translations included works by Cervantes, Flaubert, Boccaccio, and Burns, each demonstrating his remarkable ability to convey not just the meaning but the cultural essence of the original works.

Perhaps most notably, Lukash developed innovative approaches to preserve the wordplay, idioms, and cultural references of original texts. For instance, in translating Cervantes’ ‘Don Quixote,’ he created Ukrainian equivalents for Spanish proverbs that maintained their wisdom and wit while feeling authentically Ukrainian.

His legacy extends beyond his translations themselves. Lukash compiled an extensive dictionary of Ukrainian synonyms and stylistic variants, which remains a valuable resource for translators and writers. His work demonstrated that the Ukrainian language was capable of expressing the most sophisticated literary concepts and could serve as a medium for world literature.

Today, Lukash is remembered not only as a brilliant translator but as a custodian of Ukrainian culture who helped preserve and enrich the Ukrainian language during a period of systematic Russification.

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