Committee to study problems in use of Maltese

Steve Borg

Aug 16th 2008, 11:45

@a.cassar

I prefer to use the word Gnus Maghquda rather than Nazzjonijiet Uniti. Yet for the word cascati, I use the known word "carcara" and not the Italian cascati. I have heard the word in the limits of Mgarr, Malta, when I had rented property close to Maltese highest waterfall, flowing from Wied il-Halqun to Wied il-Hmar. This fact remains relatively unknown to most people since to see this natural wonder, one has to have access through private land and be in the area after a rainstorm.

joe felice pace

Aug 15th 2008, 20:24

My I comment on the use of Nazzjonijiet Uniti and Gnus Maghquda. Gnus means races, and a race of people can be spread all over the world (take the Maltese, for example). So the right word to use in Nazzjonijiet because the organization is made up of nations (with definite territorial limits) and not of races. Using Nazzjonijiet, which belongs to Romance Maltese, makes it logical to use Uniti rather that Maghquda, which actually has wider connotations.

Reuben Seychell

Aug 15th 2008, 13:46

Be proud, rational but reasonable, and with good taste.

a.cassar

Aug 15th 2008, 10:51

I would like to wish the commitee all the luck in the world. Gentlemen you have a very tough task ahead of you. May your work rid us of the banalities we often have to put up with. Our ear drums will be grateful! Words like scelta instead of ghazla, Nazzjonijiet Uniti instead of Gnus Maghquda, snow instead of borra and cascati (waterfalls) instead of waqghat (in an ad currently being broadcast on one of the local radio stations) really sound so stupid. This is just the tip of the iceberg and I'm sure other readers have a lot more examples of howlers.

Rachel Attard

Aug 15th 2008, 09:51

The Broadcasting Authority and the National Council for the Maltese Language should have watched on TVM the opening ceremony of the Olympic games. The word 'China' was repeatedly said by the commentators. How difficult it was to say Cina in Maltese?