National Language Council meets local councils

The National Council for the Maltese Language has held a series of five meetings with local councils. At these meetings, held at the Department for Local Councils in Valletta, and in Xewkija, Gozo, two representatives of the Language Council met the executive secretaries of a number of councils and spoke to them about the council's work and its present projects, especially those in which co-operation from both sides is needed. They also discussed some difficulties the secretaries are facing in their language use.

The executive secretaries showed great interest in the Council's proposals and some of them suggested closer co-operation with the Language Council to enhance the quality of written Maltese, such as in public posters and billboards, and in local councils' publications.

The problem relating to names of localities, most of which currently appear in a badly reduced form, was also discussed. Even here, it is clear that there is the will to revise these names to make them reflect the correct popular form.

Many expressed the wish to hold these meetings regularly. The Language Council promised to build contacts with all the local councils.

The meetings were the result of an initiative of the Maltese Language Council and the director of Local Government, Natalino Attard.