Hispanist Maria Pachkova: A translator lives many lives

"Working for Radio Bulgaria was the happiest time of my life"

published on 2/10/25 10:56 PM

Photo: Personal archive

Few Bulgarian researchers have had the opportunity to study Basque culture in its entirety - language, lifestyle, customs, temperament and traditions. Among them is Hispanist Maria Pachkova, who for decades was part of the Spanish editorial team at Radio Bulgaria. About ten years ago she won a scholarship that took her to San Sebastián, one of the three largest cities in the Basque Country.

"San Sebastián is a big, beautiful city with rich cultural traditions," says Maria Pachkova. She draws a parallel between the Basques and the Bulgarians:

"Among the Basques there is a tradition of gatherings of poet-improvisers who entertain and delight the audience with their creativity. This comes from the medieval tradition of troubadour poetry, which has existed for centuries. And what makes them similar to us Bulgarians is that the Basque people have a very long tradition of sheep herding and are known as excellent sheep farmers.

They are also great sailors. We cannot compete with them in this respect, but the Basque Country is both agricultural and maritime.

They also had, until recently, a very advanced heavy industry, which has come to a relative standstill with the depletion of the deposits. Shipbuilding is one of their strengths, and in this respect we are similar, since our country also built large ships until 30 years ago".

On her return to Bulgaria, Maria Pachkova adds Basque literature to her extensive body of translated fiction by major Spanish authors. Deeply fascinated by the Basque worldview and sensitivity, each translation takes her deeper into the lands of Europe's oldest spoken language, Euskara.

This time, her 'companions' are a contemporary storyteller and a wandering traveller through the Basque Country - characters from her latest book, which she is bringing to Bulgarian readers in collaboration with Plamar Publishing House, translated from the Basque.

"So far, we have mainly presented the most prominent contemporary Basque writers. The authors of the story "Miñan" ("Little Brother" in Basque) are an African, Ibrahima Balde, and a Basque, Ametz Arsalus. Why did we decide to publish this book? It is linked to a very painful issue for the whole of Europe - refugees. It is full of drama, because the fate of every refugee is a drama".

"It may be that the fate of having a large emigration outside has made the Basque people more sensitive to the fate of migrants. We, the Bulgarians, also have a large emigration - in recent years, but also before that, when Bulgarians settled in Latin America, in Argentina and Uruguay" - says Maria Pachkova.

Maria Pachkova has been a translator all her conscious life. When she talks about her profession, translation, she says that it is a unique way to open a big window to the world. For her, it is also a way of preserving and improving her mother tongue. "Let us not forget how important Bulgarian is, it is ours, so we should take care of it, but also try to use it properly," is her message as a committed translator who works with words every day:

"I was very lucky. I started studying Spanish because of family circumstances, but my youth also coincided with a surge of interest in the Spanish language. Soon after the victory of the Cuban Revolution, a degree in Spanish philology was introduced. I was one of the first students to graduate in Spanish Philology. Then, I was lucky enough to find a job at Radio Bulgaria. I was still a student - some of us used to go and volunteer and learn, the work was extremely interesting. Working in the radio was the happiest time, not only for me, but for all the people in the newsroom. I was surrounded by people who had a great interest and desire to improve and learn. We looked for all kinds of ways to enrich ourselves.

Екипът на Предавания на испански език в студио на БНР. Отляво надясно: The team of Spanish-language broadcasts at the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). From left to right: Ventsislav Nikolov, Raina Petkova, Katya Dimanova, Evelina Savova, Ani Georgieva, Maria Pachkova, Lyudmila Petrakieva, and Mihail Mihaylov.

As well as translating from Spanish into Bulgarian, Maria Pachkova also translates from Bulgarian into Spanish - she says that this provides a balance in translation, the translator creating the link between the languages and maintaining the level of both at the same time:

"The profession of translator is like any other; it requires constant work. You can't stop, because words have no end, and reality is constantly changing - new words for new things emerge as life evolves. I think a translator lives many lives. With every book you translate, you enter a reality that is not your own. You can never get bored. I translate mainly in the evenings, at night, because for many years my days were dedicated to radio, and I also have children, a family, so everything runs parallel. I can't complain, life has allowed me to develop fully in every respect".

Photos: personal archive, Museum of Radio History in Bulgaria, New Bulgarian University

Posted in English by E. Radkova

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