Lidija Šega
Lidija Šega is a teacher of English and German. She completed her undergraduate studies in Germanic languages and later specialised in English–Slovenian translation at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. She has worked in the field of translation and interpreting for over 55 years. In 1969, she was awarded the title of court interpreter and accredited as an interpreter to the European Commission and the European Central Bank. In 2000, she joined the Translation Department of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, where she was appointed lector in English–Slovenian translation. In 2010, she became a lecturer at a vocational college of insurance business.
She was part of the group of experts and translators who translated the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia and revised the texts forming the basis of the multilingual terminology collection Evroterm. She is the author of the Great Modern English–Slovenian Business Dictionary (1997) and the Abridged Modern Business Dictionary (2001). She has also contributed to and reviewed entries for the most comprehensive English–Slovenian/Slovenian–English glossary published on the DZTPS website.
Shortly after joining DZTPS, she was granted a licence as a professional translator for English and German. She served as a member of the editorial board of the journal Mostovi and as editor-in-chief of the proceedings of the conference marking DZTPS’s 50th anniversary. She was actively involved in the Association’s terminology sections and served on the Administrative Board, Supervisory Board and Ethics Commission, as well as heading the Association from 1991 to 1993. She has also served on the admissions committee for new members and court interpreters, acting as an examiner for certain languages. Since 1995, she has lectured at numerous well-attended DZTPS seminars.
On the occasion of the Association’s 50th anniversary, she received an award for her outstanding contribution to its activities. She continues to attend DZTPS webinars and encourages younger members to become actively involved in the Association by setting a personal example. She also took part in the project If You Are Not Translated, You Do Not Exist and has expressed her strong support for the Association’s future development.
Shortly after joining DZTPS, she was granted a licence as a professional translator for English and German. She served as a member of the editorial board of the journal Mostovi and as editor-in-chief of the proceedings of the conference marking DZTPS’s 50th anniversary. She was actively involved in the Association’s terminology sections and served on the Administrative Board, Supervisory Board and Ethics Commission, as well as heading the Association from 1991 to 1993. She has also served on the admissions committee for new members and court interpreters, acting as an examiner for certain languages. Since 1995, she has lectured at numerous well-attended DZTPS seminars.
On the occasion of the Association’s 50th anniversary, she received an award for her outstanding contribution to its activities. She continues to attend DZTPS webinars and encourages younger members to become actively involved in the Association by setting a personal example. She also took part in the project If You Are Not Translated, You Do Not Exist and has expressed her strong support for the Association’s future development.
dr. Stanko (Stanislav) Klinar
Slovenian linguist, English scholar, translator and mountaineering publicist, joined DZTPS in 1981. He studied English and German at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, and went on to teach at elementary and secondary schools in Jesenice and elsewhere in Gorenjska, as well as at the Jesenice Adult Education Centre. In 1968, he was appointed lecturer in modern English at the then Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. He was later promoted to senior lecturer in English, obtained his doctorate and was appointed assistant professor. He remained at the Department of English and American Studies until his retirement.
Within DZTPS, he headed the English language section, which organised numerous seminars and lectures that attracted translators from across Slovenia. As a tireless educator of translators, he held a special place among the Association’s members. At the Faculty of Arts, he dedicated much of his professional activity to translator training and, through the pilot introduction of a specialist translation programme in the 1980s, laid the foundations for today’s Department of Translation. As an active member of the Association, he generously shared his expertise with colleagues at seminars and through highly professional contributions to the Association’s journal Mostovi.
On the occasion of DZTPS’s 50th anniversary, Stanko Klinar received an award for his outstanding contribution to the Association’s activities. At the general assembly in March 2019, he was appointed an honorary member of the Association. A collection of papers celebrating his anniversary was published in 2018 by the Department of English and American Studies and issued by the Scientific Publishing House of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana (https://e-knjige.ff.uni-lj.si/znanstvena-zalozba/catalog/view/131/225/3543-1).
Within DZTPS, he headed the English language section, which organised numerous seminars and lectures that attracted translators from across Slovenia. As a tireless educator of translators, he held a special place among the Association’s members. At the Faculty of Arts, he dedicated much of his professional activity to translator training and, through the pilot introduction of a specialist translation programme in the 1980s, laid the foundations for today’s Department of Translation. As an active member of the Association, he generously shared his expertise with colleagues at seminars and through highly professional contributions to the Association’s journal Mostovi.
On the occasion of DZTPS’s 50th anniversary, Stanko Klinar received an award for his outstanding contribution to the Association’s activities. At the general assembly in March 2019, he was appointed an honorary member of the Association. A collection of papers celebrating his anniversary was published in 2018 by the Department of English and American Studies and issued by the Scientific Publishing House of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana (https://e-knjige.ff.uni-lj.si/znanstvena-zalozba/catalog/view/131/225/3543-1).
Bernarda Mrak Kosel
Bernarda Mrak Kosel became a DZTPS member in 1984. She studied English and French and obtained a master’s degree at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. In 1987, she was first appointed English language instructor at the University of Ljubljana, followed by appointment as lecturer in 1991 and senior lecturer in 2006. From 1997 until her retirement, she taught technical English at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, while also engaging extensively in translating and proofreading articles for publication in international journals.
She contributed to the compilation of the Automotive Dictionary, published by Tehniška založba, and devoted particular care to the textbook of technical English, which went through several editions and included a glossary. The glossary, comprising 4,000 entries in the field of mechanical engineering, was continuously updated by her and, on her retirement, she donated it to DZTPS.
Her selfless act, intended above all to support and transfer knowledge to younger translator colleagues, was warmly welcomed by DZTPS members, who unanimously appointed her an honorary member at the Association’s general assembly in 2018.
She contributed to the compilation of the Automotive Dictionary, published by Tehniška založba, and devoted particular care to the textbook of technical English, which went through several editions and included a glossary. The glossary, comprising 4,000 entries in the field of mechanical engineering, was continuously updated by her and, on her retirement, she donated it to DZTPS.
Her selfless act, intended above all to support and transfer knowledge to younger translator colleagues, was warmly welcomed by DZTPS members, who unanimously appointed her an honorary member at the Association’s general assembly in 2018.
Gordon Stuart
Originally of Scottish descent, he spent most of his life at his 15th-century Colliston Castle in Angus, near Arbroath, Scotland. He was a remarkable and broad-minded linguist, an exceptionally gifted polyglot who mastered as many as 28 languages, including an impressive command of several Slavic languages and, notably, Slovenian, in which he corresponded with colleagues from DZTPS. In his youth, he studied Latin and Ancient Greek at Cambridge, followed by French and German, and graduated with a master’s degree with honours. He later studied Polish and Russian as a part-time student at the University of London, while teaching himself many other languages. After retiring relatively early from teaching, he devoted himself fully to translation until his death in 2017 and became president of the Scottish branch of the Institute of Linguists.
Olga Shrestha, a DZTPS member, first met Gordon Stuart at a congress of the International Federation of Translators (FIT) in Maastricht, the Netherlands. He also played an important role during the most critical days of Slovenia’s struggle for independence, reporting on events in Slovenia for Scotland’s leading daily newspaper. DZTPS members met him in person during his private visit to Ljubljana in 1993 when, at the Association’s invitation, he delivered a lecture and led a discussion on how he had managed to learn so many languages. He gave the lecture in Slovenian which, although interspersed with elements of other Slavic languages, was nevertheless clearly understood by all.
Gordon Stuart kept closely informed of DZTPS activities and maintained regular contact with colleagues from the Association, who unanimously supported the decision to award him honorary membership.
Olga Shrestha, a DZTPS member, first met Gordon Stuart at a congress of the International Federation of Translators (FIT) in Maastricht, the Netherlands. He also played an important role during the most critical days of Slovenia’s struggle for independence, reporting on events in Slovenia for Scotland’s leading daily newspaper. DZTPS members met him in person during his private visit to Ljubljana in 1993 when, at the Association’s invitation, he delivered a lecture and led a discussion on how he had managed to learn so many languages. He gave the lecture in Slovenian which, although interspersed with elements of other Slavic languages, was nevertheless clearly understood by all.
Gordon Stuart kept closely informed of DZTPS activities and maintained regular contact with colleagues from the Association, who unanimously supported the decision to award him honorary membership.
In 1979, Janko Golias and Zdenko Knez were appointed the first honorary members of the DZTPS.
Zdenko Knez
Zdenko Knez was the most enthusiastic founding member and the first chairman of the Association of Technical Translators (Društvo strokovnih prevajalcev), as DZTPS was called during the first eight years of its existence. From its foundation until 1978, the Association’s head office was registered at his home address at Gosposvetska cesta 1, Ljubljana. Before the Second World War, he studied in the Netherlands. He was a distinguished economist and a highly regarded lecturer in economics. A polyglot, he later devoted himself to professional translation and also served as a court interpreter for Serbian, Croatian, German, Dutch, English and French. As chairman, he was exceptionally active and dedicated, publishing extensively in the professional journal Mostovi, which he himself edited and produced for many years. He also introduced translation rates which continue to serve as recommended rates for professional translations.
dr. Janko Golias
Janko Golias was the central professional figure of the Association. A witty conversationalist, meticulous linguist and bel esprit, he was an accomplished Germanic and English scholar who also translated into French. A lawyer by training, he worked in the diplomatic service before the Second World War and, after the war, as a member of the Literary Translators’ Association, he translated extensively, particularly scientific and professional texts. This led him to take the initiative to establish an association of professional translators. He set strict admission criteria for new members and compiled the first directory of members in line with international standards. He also served as chairman of the Association and edited the professional newsletter Mostovi, for which he wrote many important articles and studies, and he published several technical glossaries. In addition, he contributed articles to Babel and delivered reports at FIT congresses.
In 1990, on the occasion of DZTPS’s 30th anniversary, several founding members who had been exceptionally active in the Association were appointed honorary members. These were Branko Vrčon, Bogo Smolej, Narcis Dembskij, Viktor Jesenik and Ferdinand Majaron, a lawyer and secretary of the Bar Association of Slovenia, who had been appointed court interpreter as early as 1927. He was fluent in German, English, Italian and French.
Narcis Dembskij and Viktor Jesenik
Narcis Dembskij and Viktor Jesenik, translators and court interpreters for French, enjoyed the reputation of a very special translator tandem among the DZTPS membership. Both grew up in France and first met as fellow translators in Ljubljana in 1957. They were highly active members of the Association and both served as chairmen. As a member of the Cultural Community of Slovenia, Narcis Dembskij worked to promote the role of translation in society, while Viktor Jesenik, as a member of the Council of the International Federation of Translators (FIT), established the first formal contacts with translator organisations worldwide. Both readily shared their knowledge with younger colleagues, believing that helping members was one of the Association’s fundamental tasks. Together, they worked on a long-term project that resulted in the publication of a Slovenian–French dictionary.
dr. Branko Vrčon
Branko Vrčon also made a significant contribution to the establishment and functioning of the Association. A lawyer by training and fluent in several foreign languages, he was a member of the Literary Translators’ Association of Slovenia. As head of the translation department at Litostroj, he soon recognised the need for a professional translators’ association that would bring together experts from various fields who could benefit from a professional organisation to support translation in business and scientific contexts. A versatile translator, he remained active in both technical and literary translation well into retirement.
