Maltese drama and linguistic diversity in the EU

L-Akkademja tal-Malti has taken note of Jon Rosser's reply (October 15) to our objections related to how we believe the cause of Maltese theatre is being undermined in Showtime.

Mr Rosser seems to be wishing to take refuge in suggesting that the Showtime theatre "survey" should not be taken "too seriously". He also states that the "survey", presumably conducted by himself, laid stress on "preference" for English language theatre performances in Malta rather than on a volition to denigrate Maltese theatre.

In the first instance, L-Akkademja tal-Malti cannot imagine a paper of standing like The Times carrying a "survey" that Mr Rosser declares "should not be taken too seriously". If Showtime has to be taken as reflecting a valid contribution towards the performing arts, such declarations condoning flippancy are most unfortunate. On the other hand, Showtime (October 3) carried the " theatre survey" as a front page contribution, under a banner headline that stresses absolute volition, need or craving. The headline read: "What We Want" (emphasis by Showtime), with a sub-heading insisting, Showtime asks theatregoers what they want to see. "To want" was used by Showtime in respect of theatre performances to stress, firmly and resolutely, that fewer than two per cent of those polled (namely patrons of English language plays) opted for drama in Maltese.

There are those who are keen to attach the issue of theatre in Maltese with "nationalist" or "romantic" meaning. That interpretation is totally wrong.

As a person hailing from the United Kingdom, Mr Rosser ought to know how Ireland, Scotland and Wales have been committed boldly to develop their respective national theatres as part of their political, social and cultural life. Not many people understand Welsh, Irish, Scottish or for that matter, Romanian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Finnish or Norwegian outside their country but they all insist that their native theatre, in their native tongues, should represent local, national and universal themes. Of the two languages spoken in Norway, one is used by only about 20 per cent of the population and it has its own national theatre.

The whole issue about the need to encourage and sustain Maltese dramatic art is cultural and political and that is what Showtime should regard as important. Theatre is recognised as one of the most potent forces to convey a language to the people and for the people. Any action aimed at wilfully undermining theatre in the vernacular amounts to a violation of the very policies emboldened by the European Union.

According to official information supplied by the EU Commission (report submitted by Michel Ebner on regional and lesser used languages) 40 million Europeans speak a minority language and the enlarged EU will contain approximately 60 lesser-used languages, including Maltese. According to a recent report (2003) on regional and lesser used languages adopted by the European parliament, "initiatives to encourage linguistic diversity would help to create a climate of trust and create a heightened awareness of (Europe's) linguistic and cultural heritage in an enlarged continent".

Moreover, the European Convention, which has been working on a European constitution, has also stressed Europe's unity in the recognition of the diversity of languages.

It is high time that the political and cultural implications of propagating the Maltese language, even through theatre forms, be recognised by key media sources. It is the responsibility of L-Akkademja tal-Malti to continue to be vigilant and to draw the attention of editors whenever national linguistic issues are being denigrated in one form or other.

We feel that Showtime should push aside what to us is a bias and start looking at the wider picture involving the vernacular theatre in Malta. The vernacular theatre is about self-respect, affirmation, communication and cultural identity. To ignore it or to relegate it to the margins would constitute a grave error of judgment. L-Akkademja tal-Malti expects the media, the national cultural institutions and the politicians themselves to direct their attention towards the matter as soon as possible.

It is opportune to end with what Annette McNamara, president of the European Alliance Group in the EU Committee of Regions, expressed recently: "Linguistic diversity may be about communication but it is much more than this - it's about you, your culture and your heritage; it's what defines you. Every time we lose a language in the EU, we lose part of what makes Europe great".

Dr Briffa is president of L-Akkademja tal-Malti.