On June 3, 2022, the Zoom platform hosted an event dedicated to the presentation of the work of Olena Ponomareva, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Professor of Ukrainian Studies and Intercultural Mediation at the Sapienza University of Rome, lexicography specialist, researcher and publicist.
Iryna Kliuchkovska, Director of IECDR, started the event, noting: «In fact, we continue to fulfill our task. We open to Ukraine individuals, people who work to promote the interests of Ukraine in their countries of residence. Italy is a special country. That is why the promotion of the Ukrainian narrative in a country where the situation is not at all ambiguous is extremely important. After all, for Italy, as for the rest of the world, for many decades Ukraine remained the so-called «terra incognita». And when we start talking about European integration again and again today, we must understand that there is another very important condition for political and economic European integration, which scholars say about – it is culture; the path that was actually blocked for many years».
Welcoming the participants of the event, Liliia Zhuk, Vice-Rector for Education and Strategic Development, Lviv Polytechnic National University, said: «We know and appreciate your work, dear Mz. Ponomareva, for the dissemination of knowledge in Italian society – a country that occupies a special position in the interpretation of modern events. Therefore, your work, in particular the creation and publication of the Ukrainian-Italian dictionary and the book «Living Torches», are of great importance for promoting Ukraine’s interest in Italy. We believe that soon after such an expected victory, we will not only be able to meet with you in a virtual format, but also jointly implement important for both countries projects».
The event was moderated and interviewed by Nazar Danchyshyn, Candidate of Philological Sciences, IECDR researcher. During the conversation, Olena Ponomareva told the participants about becoming a philologist and researchers, moving to Italy and teaching at the Sapienza University of Rome, about the spread of the Ukrainian language in Italy, overcoming pressure on the Ukrainian language from the side of Russian Slavic studies, about the creation of a dictionary, and the writing of «Living Torches» and «Letters from Donbas»:
«My main task in creating the dictionary is the cultural presence of Ukraine in Italy, which can now be seen on the bookshelves of bookstores and libraries», said the speaker about the mission of her dictionary.
«Dictionaries of this size were not published in Italy in other languages, but only in the most common French, English and Spanish. This is, perhaps, the first dictionary created according to the rules of the new spelling. Thanks to him, we are building a cultural bridge between Ukraine and Italy, between Ukraine and Europe. Now the Ukrainian language will not be confused in Italy with Russian, as such things have happened before», informs Mz. Ponomareva about the peculiarities of the dictionary.
The author also answered questions how the so-called bridge between the two countries could be built or whether she wants to work in the genre of artistic reporting, as well as about the issue of dissidents in the present.
As for future relations between the two countries, Olena Ponomareva is convinced: «Ukraine itself needs to work harder on this. Italy, I can say, despite everything at the official level, supports Ukraine’s European integration. France and Germany now take a slightly different position. That is, Italy cannot be interpreted as a Russophile or Ukrainophobic country, because this is not true. Italian journalists work constantly in war zones risking their lives. And they provide objective information, but this «Russian lobby» has come to life again and is creating a talk show about Ukraine, in which the so-called experts from both sides take part and who once again misinform Italian society».
We express our gratitude to Mz. Ponomareva and all the speakers for such an interesting story! We believe that a common language between Ukraine and Italy has been achieved.
