Howler waiting to happen

Many of us no longer bat an eyelid when we see the Maltese word futbol (May 9). However I blinked several times one day this week as I was marking Sixth Form assignments in Maltese. There it was, the neologism I'd been steeling myself to meet, essach,...

Many of us no longer bat an eyelid when we see the Maltese word futbol (May 9).

However I blinked several times one day this week as I was marking Sixth Form assignments in Maltese. There it was, the neologism I'd been steeling myself to meet, essach, a rendering of as such, a phrase which increasing numbers of people are throwing into conversation in Maltese. I'm lucky not to have been inflicted with wans li, for "once...", but I know I will quite soon.

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