Right of cultural choice

Life is full of choices and impositions. We do not choose the country we are born in and we try to adapt ourselves to its modus vivendi. If we try to change a few things, we are called socially committed but possibly non-conformists. If we try to change many things, we may be called progressives but possibly ideological anarchists.

We do not choose our religion during our early years but later we may choose to shock our entourage, or at least to be courageous, by seeking affinity between religion and ideology.

At birth we do not choose our hair colour, skin pigment or height.

We choose the music that we like, food, clothes, friends. Sometimes we regret our choices as far as friends and profession go but, to a large extent, choices are free and we are thus responsible for their consequences.

We do, however, choose our profession depending on intelligence and affinity of talent, although sometimes political opportunism, nepotism, "cousinism", etc help.

We also have the choice to like other languages and cultures besides our own. Indeed, it is difficult to fully appreciate a foreign culture without loving your own first. Linguistic and cultural patriotism are thus indispensable.

Acquaintance with foreign languages and cultures is an important intellectual enrichment as each culture is a way of thinking. It is desirable for the sake of personal maturity to be acquainted with several languages and cultures. It is difficult in a lifetime to dedicate oneself to the knowledge and appreciation of all cultures as there are other family, social and professional commitments that leave little time for the luxury of being continuously surrounded by culture.

Also, it is impossible, due to personality and character, to like all languages and cultures equally. There is thus an imposition - ergo a lack of freedom - of choice due to personal taste. We usually do not worry too much about these impositions as we accept that life is short.

At the same time, we have a civil and cultural right of choice within the circumstances that limit our choice.

Most Maltese prefer European languages and cultures and this may also be seen in young people's choices at school. They choose a few among them and dedicate some time regularly to be in contact with them.

Some idealists like to point out that Europeanity alone is a straitjacket and suggest a vaster cultural involvement. They seem to think that cultural selectivity is an intellectual limitation. This is unreasonable idealism accompanied by still-born argumentation. One cannot, during a few hours of loisir per week, become familiar with Amazonian poetry, Zambian music and Southeast Asian artistic weaving.

Indeed, persons hostile to cultural selectivity forget to mention their own selectivity in their life and travels. Nine times out of 10 they choose European destinations.

Guides and interpreters

I once heard a story about an amateur guide who took tourists to some cave with religious connections that was supposed to retain its dimensions in spite of hacking at its rock walls. He explained that in this miraculous cave "Cut kemm cut never cut" - which was an impressive geological assertion. Geologists who had tried to put this miracle to the test were not allowed to be heretics and desecrate holy places. Thus, plead kemm plead, argue kemm argue, they were left with only one "scientific" option: hands off, believe blindly and beat it.

Guiding today has become much more sophisticated. Guides' linguistic, historical and cultural knowledge has developed since the Troglodytic times of cut kemm cut. Things being slow in Malta, guides' claim to a right of possessing a warrant, making cowboy guides illegal, was eventually satisfied following great "wait u wait" exasperation.

Another linguistic profession awaits and awaits. Professional translators and interpreters are on the increase in Malta due to persisting demands for their services. Obviously, one cannot confuse a guide with an interpreter as these require completely different talents and skills.

At present nobody has the right to be a guide without a licence. A cowboy guide is thus breaking the law - and this is the way it should be. In the same way, for the sake of seriousness and good organisation, nobody should have the right to be an interpreter or translator without a warrant.

I believe that a group of interpreters have written to the Ministry of Education regarding this matter and an early solution to this need would eliminate cowboy interpreters and translators who, shout kemm shout, never really speak.

Skål!

Well done to the quality Scandinavian tourists behaving like wild boar in the queue of the Castille visit during Notte Bianca!

Dr Licari teaches psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and geolinguistics at the Department of French of the University of Malta.