Iryna Moroz, Associate Professor at the Department of General Physics, the Institute of Applied Mathematics and Fundamental Sciences, Lviv Polytechnic National University, has compiled an unusual English-Ukrainian dictionary of physics terms, definitions and laws. Its originality lies in the fact that the bilingual texts are accompanied by a large number of illustrations. This makes it possible to use the dictionary to study English scientific language and physics.
– Back in 2014, Lviv Polytechnic launched a pilot project to teach foreign students in English, and I was invited to do this work. This was preceded by two years of my research work at an American university, where I had the opportunity to work on English-language textbooks. The first thing that struck me was how bright and richly illustrated they were, as well as accessible and understandable in presenting complex scientific material, said Iryna Moroz.
So the researcher came up with the idea to create such an interestingly designed dictionary of physics terms for Ukrainian students. This, according to Iryna, would increase the interest of young people in physics, which is the basis of all technical sciences taught at Lviv Polytechnic.
The impetus for this work was also the difficulties that arise when translating scientific works. From her own experience, Iryna Moroz told us about various funny examples of philological translation of physical terms that she had to face.
– In 2015, I decided to create a beautifully designed dictionary with illustrations. The work was not easy and took almost four years. I tried to choose illustrations for the dictionary that would not only reflect physical concepts, but also somehow relate to Ukraine, Lviv Polytechnic’s research and modern world achievements.
In 2018, while cooperating with Kingston University London, UK, I met Andy Augousti, a Professor of Physics at the university, and he joined me as an editor. I created the pictures and did the computer typesetting myself, and my son, who is a specialist in printing, helped me with the layout, said Iryna Moroz.
The English-Ukrainian dictionary was published in 2020. And in 2021, Andy Augousti, who had established cooperation with China, offered to publish a similar English-Chinese dictionary. So from 2021, Iryna Moroz led this cooperation, making sure that all references to Ukraine remained in the new dictionary. It was published in 2023.
Polish colleagues from the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology also became interested in the idea of such a dictionary.
By the way, the book PHYSICS: An English-Ukrainian Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Basic Terms, Concepts and Laws was ranked third among 42 selected publications in the Special and Adaptive Literature/Lifestyle category in the All-Ukrainian Book of the Year 2021 ranking. Now Iryna Moroz is considering the idea of creating a dictionary Modern Physics and Technologies, adding the information that is being developed at Lviv Polytechnic.
