The language question (2)

Among other very important issues your editorial raised (The Sunday Times, January 29) it has put into perspective the ongoing debate about the spelling of the Maltese word for 'euro'.

As you pointed out, the crux of the matter lies with the apparent lack of direction in the manner the Maltese language should continue to evolve. It is inevitable that a language has to import loan-words to survive.

The Maltese language has been doing this since time immemorial. Take, for instance, the number of Italian words that are now part and parcel of the Maltese language. This process would appear to have been relatively painless given that both languages have similar phonetic orthographies. However when it comes to importing or adopting Anglo-Saxon words the problem takes a different dimension.

What is plaguing the Maltese language is the lack of consensus between interested parties on how it should develop, as well as the absence of a central authority which is regarded as the ultimate body in matters of the Maltese language in the manner that the BBC was to the English language.

One question that should be asked is: should foreign words be adopted in their original, undiluted form or should they be primarily subjected to Maltese phonetic orthography? This latter will, of course, give rise not only to dissonance to the language but also bastardise it. This will ultimately have the potential of reducing the Maltese language to the status of 'pidgin' vernacular.

Importing words in their original form, however discordant to the Maltese language they may be, would facilitate the process of transition considerably, leaving no room for debate.

However if the loan-word is to be "Maltesised" then one has to ensure, at least, that consistent and appropriate rules are strictly applied. For instance, I have some reservations with the adoption of the word "ewro". No doubt 'euro' is a derivative of 'Europe' - I hardly think that it is intended to be the Aboriginal Australian word, of identical spelling and pronunciation, for a large reddish kangaroo.

To the extent that the Maltese "ewro" is a derivative of "Ewropa" I concur with the Kunsill Nazzjonali ta' l-Ilsien Malti that it is logical to spell 'euro' "ewro". However, given the English pronunciation of 'euro' Maltese language morphology would dictate that a literal transition into Maltese would be "juro".