EVELINA IOTZOVA: STRIVING FOR PRECISION

Human knowledge, ingenuity and intuition combined with the precision of specialised machine translation and standards of full confidentiality: this is in short the reasons behind the exceptional quality of translations offered by Skrivanek Translation Agency. The Bulgarian company is a part of the renowned international Skrivanek Group and is run by Evelina Iotzova, a skilled manager with an unwavering passion about translation.

What was the most important lesson you learned after you made this fateful step in your life – to found Skrivanek?

The lessons were more than one and each day I learn something new. We all make our life's choices convinced of our capabilities and powers. During the process we call life we realise that some ideas were wrong, we learn from some failures, we start pursuing new dreams. We grow and develop. So, I would not answer your question – because I know that I know nothing, that I am yet to learn the final lesson. However, I am certain that being the manager of a translation agency is not necessarily related to translating. Translation is still my passion. I fight for the right to enjoy it every day.

And what was the most important managerial decision that you had to make?

A managerial decision could be successful or not, right or wrong, I can go on. I do not believe it could be important or unimportant. The importance of our decisions, both managerial and in our lives, is defined by the future, of whether we have left a trace. However, I believe in the importance of a decision I took a long time ago: to invest my willpower and love in young colleagues, to teach them all I know and can – from how to put documents easily into a punched pocket to how to calmly meet the challenge of a new job. Two years ago we created a new, successful internship programme that met us with impressive young talents from Bulgaria, Germany, France and Slovakia. In 2023, together with Astrid Hager, manager of Skrivanek Germany, and Anita Hostnik, manager of AdriatIQa Slovenia, we also offered a shared mentorship in the marketing internship programme. These results inspire me for new ideas. Working with young people making their first steps in our work is a challenge, but also a blessing. This is not exaggeration.

What does quality translation services look like today, according to Skrivanek? Where does the work of the machine end and where does the translator's talent begin?

AI is today's hot topic, it is in the news, in our hopes, fears and intellectual speculations. In Skrivanek, but also in our entire industry, the machine and the human work on the translation together, side by side and in synchrony. They have been doing it for many years. The machine translation is faster and cheaper, and when it is edited by a professional, it can be effective and of exceptional quality. In short: it is good value for money. However, there is something crucial that we often underestimate: the information's security. If you opt for machine translation, you should know who and in what machine will process your text, and who else will have access to the data. Your data can be easily misused and abused and you will never know who, how and when did it. The safety of commercial plans and data is zero in public translation platforms, especially the free ones. This is why Skrivanek has developed its own machine for translations. We are very serious about data security and loyalty to the companies that have trusted us. You should always trust your translation to professionals.

Besides English, translations to and from which languages are most in demand at Skrivanek?

We work with many languages on a daily basis. On our website, you will see 54 languages; in reality, there are more. As a philologist, I am very interested in language combinations that until recently were seen as exotic in Bulgaria, like translating from Arabic to Russian, from English to Kazakh, from Polish to Turkish. It is fun, isn't it? The world is getting closer. The most valuable quality of our company is the capability to find solutions to all language-related questions. At the offices of Skrivanek Bulgaria work qualified professionals who are masters of literary Bulgarian and English, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Czech, Slovak and German. I am proud to say that we help people and companies to meet and work easily. It sounds like an advertising slogan. But it is true.

What type of translations are the core of your business?

I will give the answer to a young colleague, Ayten Yashar, whose diamond precision in translation is matched only by her sunny smile.

Ayten Yashar: We have many and different translations: advertising campaigns, auditing reports, subtitles of marketing and training videos. We also translate in court, in online meetings or employee trainings. Precision, correctness and honesty are the three things that are crucial in both our work and each translation. They define whether the clients will trust our services. We aim to facilitate and assist in the communication between citizens, institutions, and companies. This is why my colleagues and I strive to be as precise as possible. Our work demands nothing less than uncompromising accuracy when it comes to terminology and professional lingo, values, names, tense or language style as well as formatting, not to mention punctuation and spelling. When this striving is combined with often tight deadlines, the challenge becomes even greater. Attention to detail is a must. So, first among all types of translation, I put the one that is polished and crafted with precision.

Which translation or client you will never forget and why?

This time will answer Panar Vaid, a young lady that is in love with words.

Panar Vaid: Confidentiality is a standard for Skrivanek. Personally, I think of clients as something abstract. This is why I will not quote an example. What I can share is that my first association with the word client is patience. It is fundamental. You need patience to listen to people who often come not only with a text to translate, but also with a complex situation in their lives. Overcoming one's ego requires patience, and for us linguists, lovers of language and words, it is often vulnerable. You need even more patience and understanding to accept your own mistakes. These are probably the situations that I will never forget in my work – my mistakes (they are rare and hence painful). I do my best to make only small mistakes that are fixed before a project's final stage.

Evelina Iotzova: As you see, both the lessons and the decisions are personal. Open and intelligent communication is the key to success. This is us: precision, correctness, patience and communication. This is why we have been around for almost a quarter of a century.

Sofia Office: 90 Vasil Levski Blvd, phone: +359 889 294 098

Plovdiv Office: 11 Mladezhka St, phone: +359 889 294 053

info@skrivanek-bg.net

www.skrivanek-bg.net