Translation as a Means of Survival
Languages and Poetry in Soviet Kyiv
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
In the 1970s, the capital of Soviet Ukraine was largely Russified. The Ukrainian language led a shadowy existence. Most writers produced lifeless novels and poems. But there were exceptions: among them was Moisei Fishbein, who was passionate about the Ukrainian language. His poems defied the usual expectations of Soviet literature. Translators, who often enjoyed greater freedom than authors, played a special role in the resistance to Russification. The extraordinary flourishing of Ukrainian literary translation in the 1970s led to a renaissance of the national language and culture. Translations further developed the Ukrainian language. The work of translators thus also had political significance. Many of them paid a high price for their commitment.
(Osteuropa 10/2025, pp. 79–90)