I read with interest the valid contributions about loan words on a recent Weekender and how these foreign words should be written in our vernacular. I tend to agree with Trevor Zahra in that writing English words such as caption as kapxin, washroom as woxrum, etc. are nothing but atrocities.

As Mr Zahra advised, such words should remain written in English either in inverted commas or in italics. We have been using this system for ages and we got used to it. We should not change something which worked alright and was accepted, with a substitute which surely is going to disrupt the flow of writing in Maltese and disturb those who are well happy with the old system.

Another worthy contributor, Immanuel Mifsud, said that he shudders at the sight of certain mutilated words like erkondixiner, drajklining, xokabzorber, etc. And he goes a step further: He suggests that the spelling should be left in English without adding any inverted commas or using italics.

There is no doubt at all that the councils and academies of the Maltese language are doing sterling work to promote our language and certain decisions are not so easy to take if not after a thorough study of all aspects. But it is very important for these bodies to decide once and for all how to write certain foreign words in a practical way without being atrocious or ridiculous.

So, I agree that certain English words which appear horrible if one had to try to translate them in Maltese should remain written in English.