It makes sense to use "ewro" (1)

Grtu Director-General Vince Farrugia asked: "Why do we always want to be special?" (The Sunday Times, January 15). Why do we want to write "ewro" and not 'euro', he asked. Why would we want to pronounce "ewro" and not 'euro'?

The answer is very simple: we want to use "ewro" precisely because we do not want to be special! If we say and write "ewro" we are following other countries' logic. On the contrary, if we use 'euro', as Mr Farrugia suggested, we are trying to be special!

The English say and write 'Europe', so that they have naturally taken the first part of the word and used it to refer to the currency, even if they still have their pound. So, if I were to borrow from "Nalizpelra's" cartoon (January 8) they pronounce it "juro" (the phonetic Maltese spelling) using their own alphabet and their own pronunciation because they want to be themselves and do not even think about being someone else.

The Italians say and write 'Europa', so they have naturally taken the first part of the word and used it to refer to the new coin as 'euro', naturally using their own alphabet and their own pronunciation because they want to be themselves.

The Germans pronounce the first part of the word 'Europa' with 'eu' as 'oy' in boy. Therefore they have their euro (oyro) a word that is pronounced and written as part of 'Europa'. The Germans also use their own alphabet and their own pronunciation because they want to be themselves.

I do not have a knowledge of French, but I have been told that that is the same with the French. They also naturally and logically insist on using their own language and their own pronunciation.

Therefore, please, for once, let us be ourselves. Why do we always want to be special by trying to be someone else? Why do we still have these unfortunate ideas? Why do we always have to use a foreign word when we have our own?

I feel that we must thank the Kunsill ta' l-Ilsien Malti on their initiative in bringing this point of spelling and pronouncing "ewro" to the public's attention. "Ewro" is the most natural and logical way to call this new currency. Even if my reasoning about other nation's decisions is somehow incorrect, I still feel that since we say "Ewropa", there is nothing wrong with saying "ewro" which, after all, is easily pronounced in our language.

We hear a lot of talk, even from foreigners, about the importance of us using our own language properly and proudly. Why do we lack self-esteem?