Banned from speaking in Maltese...at conference on languages

J.Micallef

Jan 1st 2009, 21:08

Malti is the language which the Maltese identify themselves with. Off course we talk English which we have integrated in our daily lives. All well. Multi-lingual nations like Malta should take pride in being so, however having said this, Malti is Malti, it is neither English, or German or French and so on. I think that very good efforts are being made by the Maltese establishments in promoting it as the language of the Maltese. The fact remains that I speak Malti with my family members and others. For example, my mothers English language skills are not that good and faithfull and humble Europeans express their native languages as their mother language !!!!!
So, Malti is a fact and as such it should be protected as much as possible. It is also a fact that Malta is an EX-British colony, again ............EX -British colony. Something that the Maltese are proud of or...........................
To be banned from speaking a language which I think linguists would be delighted to hear and study, is something which offends, really. It is beautifull simply because only the Maltese speak it, nobody else.

Raymond Sammut

Jan 1st 2009, 10:23

@ Andrew Camilleri

When faced with a difficult problem and cannot solve it as you think in Maltese, you can try switch your thinking into English, and get a solution, and vice versa. Not everyone have that privilege of "switching" while they are thinking, and that's why so many try to learn more than one language.

Maltese is a unique language which can help us solve unique problems. One of the things that Dr deBono has been trying and still tries to teach us is that we should try to "shift" laterally rather than remain "entrenched" vertically. Thinking in English and then switching into thinking in Maltese can help us achieve that vital "shift" as we try to grapple with a difficult situation.

@ Ramon Casha

My view is, the EU will never be taken seriously. It is there for opportunistic nations, and Malta cannot afford to play that game. Malta may need to pull out and restructure its economy for the next 2/3 decades, and try to establish new partners with economy and security in mind. There are surely many options that Malta could consider.

Andrew Camilleri

Dec 30th 2008, 23:17

Who cares about Maltese? It's a condemned language anyway that's pretty useless in the modern world.

E. Forte

Dec 23rd 2008, 18:27

Shaun Camilleri means like Shaun is pidgeon Irish (it should be spelled Sean) and Camilleri is pidgeon Sicilian and English is pidgeon French and German. Oh dear what a lot of pidgeon sh.....!

F Bajada

Dec 23rd 2008, 17:18

i wish to respond to all those who describe the maltese as useless and english should be given more importance.

out of 27 members, only around 10 countries there are more then 50% of the population speak in english apart from the mother tongue. the EU citizens able to speak english are about 51%. there are countries were only around 30% of the population know english. moreover, 100% of Hungarians, 100% of Portuguese, and 99.5% of Greeks speak their state language as their mother tongue. in hungary, 23% know english, in portugal 32% and greece 48%.
in the EU, the Maltese has the same importance..they are both the official law. moreover, for me, Maltese is my national language. when i am abroad, people ask me about my language, and I say that my language is Maltese

Every country has its own language and i cannot immagine a person in hungary or spain or greece or italy saying that his language is useless and english is more important.

I am really said to read comments like "With English you can be understood with Maltese you are wasting your energies on something which is not useful"

Joseph W. Galea

Dec 21st 2008, 09:28

It was always my opinion that the Maltese language will only be useful in Malta and amongst those Maltese who live overseas. Anything else is purely an excercise in futilty, no matter haw many times we preach that the Maltese language is an accepted one at the EU!

shaun camilleri

Dec 20th 2008, 10:31

Who cares anyway? What is Maltese useful for anyway? All course books are in English apart those for those dedicated to Maltese or pigeon Arabic. Even the Maltese themselves prefer English! Those who can use it and those who cannot introduce English words into the language.

With English you can be understood with Maltese you are wasting your energies on something which is not useful.

Annalise Farrugia Bennett

Dec 17th 2008, 00:16

As a Maltese citezin i'm proud of our language and the fact that our MEPs speak Maltese in the european parlament but i think that we're making a fuss for a minor thing. When Maltese people say that we speak Queen's english it is a big joke maybe our English is good but it can't be classified as queens english. I am currently living in Britian and people ask if i'm Spanish, French, Italian some dont even know we have our own language; us Maltese are known to speak good english but good english with a maltese accent. Some Maltese critizise the British and their accents because they think they can speak better than cockneys, scousers, cumbrians etc even Maltese have an accent what we can (djalett) we're not better than anyone. How many Maltese people know how to speak and write proper Maltese...??

G. Mangion

Dec 13th 2008, 18:11

The mlp's logo for the last election ( Sure they Lost !! ) was :
BIL - MALTI - BIDU GDID & IN ENGLISH, NEW beginning Yes ?
why is This Fuss on our language Now ? Why the English language not banned then ?
Banned is a thing, and There were no interpreters at the meeting is another !!
Owen Bonnici dont try to mislead us, and be Seious for Once...........il - Marrelli hey !

a.dalli

Dec 13th 2008, 14:41

@ Dr Owen Bonnici
You should have left the conference in protest. Under such circumstances you should not have delivered your speech.

T Borg

Dec 13th 2008, 14:03

I really don't understand all this fuss about English vs Maltese. Yes, we all love our language and I am very proud to be able to speak such a complex and adapted language, the only semitic language written in the Latin Alphabet, the only one which takes romance and germanic influences and incorporates them into a semitic grammatical structure, but I do not see why we have to cry for everything when in fairness we are the size of a medium city in most EU nations. Luxembourg is larger than us, has its own language - Lëtzebuergesch - and most of its population speak French and German fluently. They didn't bother demanding it be an official EU language, even though the capital is a European Union political centre!

It is not a case of national pride since pride is not making others do as you tell them, it is showing the world that your tiny nation can be a valued player on the international stage, not the small annoying child who cries whenever it doesn't get what it wants.

Francis Attard

Dec 13th 2008, 12:09

There is no need to make such a fuss Dr.Bonnici! During my time at the drydocks I, together with others, was BANNED from making overtime just because I was not a member of the GWU. And to make it even worse, this took place not only under a Labour administration, but also under a Nationalist one.
Isn't that a more serious issue than yours?

P Mifsud

Dec 13th 2008, 10:19

@Mr Fenech
"And we Speak English proper Queens English why do think these language schools prosper over here ! We speak clearer English than in many main European Cities .."

You're joking, right? Queen's English with greater clarity?

Is that why most pronounce "third" as "turd"? Or maybe "faith" as "fate"? Does the Queen speak English using Maltese sentence construction? There's more if you want.

Please don't get me started.

Daniel Bonello

Dec 13th 2008, 09:44

@ Ms. Manduca

Ignorance does not from speaking our official language.

It has become a tendency here in Malta, that people talk in English! I simply consider it to be bluff and ignorance!

Rather than being proud of our language, culture, traditions and folklore, some 'Maltese' simply try to ruin every aspect which makes our beloved country unique!

Joe Xuereb (London UK)

Dec 13th 2008, 09:25

@ Marthese Borg Manduca. What you speak is up to you. If you opt for English, the excellence of your choice is between yourself, your conscience and your interlocutor. Proper English is a notoriously difficult language to speak (as is indeed any language), one requiring a sound grasp of the very rich idiom. Throwing in a token 'you know' whenever you feel like it does not qualify as a grasp of the rich idiom I'm afraid - rather, it gives the game away. Someone elsewhere - I cannot be bothered to check the long list again - commented that good standard of English is spoken in Malta quoting the proliferation of English Language Schools. Certainly superior to the pop culture English spoken in the UK. But when learning a foreign language, one tries to emulate the best not the worst, to justify one's rubbish.

Tony Mizzi

Dec 13th 2008, 09:11

The problem isn't whether Bonnici is right or wrong ..... Obviously, he has a rght to speak in Maltese..... Aren't we all equal partners????

However, who is at fault that there are not enough interpreters??? When will the government amend this situation????

In the end, if no one can understand you, there is no point in speaking in a conference !!!!! Thus, deliving the speech in english was the only solution.

M Borg

Dec 13th 2008, 06:44

@ Marthese Borg Manduca.
As a Maltese am really hurt and offended to hear such comments. Are you stating that using our Mother Language is an act of ignorance? I speak English, love the language, the literature and the English humour, but am proud to speak Maltese wherever i am. It makes me proud that coming from such a small island, we have our own language. And yes, our EU counterparts, great intellectuals included, do take interest in this, and i do my best to explain how Malta, in its smallness, hosts a multi-dialect culture as well.
EU boasts of diversity and multi-culturalism, and i agree with this EU concept. So how come that in a EU conference on multi-lingual diversity and their importance in promoting European cultures, an EU Citizen is not allowed to speak his Mother language, even though that Maltese is an Official EU Language?
AM NEITHER A PN NOR A PL SUPPORTER, but yes, i agree with Sandro Agius, and in my opinion, in doing so, Joseph Muscat showed that he mean business. Joseph Muscat together with Simon Busuttil showed us how our MEP's should act at EU Level. What are the other MEP's doing????

Harry Vassallo

Dec 12th 2008, 20:40

Dr Bonnici was spot on in making his complaint. Imagine if he failed to remark on the very bad hair day the EU was having. Still it is more our fault than anybody else's. The university though prompted years before EU membership, did not make the necessary courses available. Possibly because it would have been interpreted as a pro-PN move in the bitter controversy on membership. Trained professional interpreters cannot be created by snapping our fingers. We may be bi-lingual but we are not born interpreters not even translators. Worse still by failing to prepare for the new reality and dominating the process, we allowed a vacuum to be created and thus a new eurospeak. There is a Brussels Maltese as there is a Brussels English. Spell kumpanija as kumpanija and Brussels corrects it as kumpannija. Nobody bothered to note that the correct legal term in Maltese is socjeta.

What is truly fascinating is how so many of us get so hot under the collar about language still. There is something unresolved about our identity. I am all for proficiency in both languages. Definitely against Malglish. I have never held it against anyone for speaking just one language.

Muscat.Pat

Dec 12th 2008, 18:35

@Marthese Borg Manduca.
This is not against English. We love English and we are lucky that we speak and use the language, when so it requires. But, the place where Owen was speaking reflected our island home. He was representing Maltese culture and our way of life. What is even more offensive, is that the conference was about indigenous languages, of which Maltese is the youngest in its age and smallest demographically. On the political side, the pigeons are coming home to roost, becasue for votes sake, the hoi polloi were fed things that hardly exist in heaven let alone in the E.U. I voted for Europe, but not for the silly and carnivalesque reasons invented by the Nationalist Party. The fuss about Maltese translators, it now transpires, was deviously used by P.N. as an exercise in vote catching only!

Patrick pace

Dec 12th 2008, 18:28

Before the Referendum the Nationalist Party with a BIG mouth told us that when joining the EU, the Maltese Language will be an official one and we can speak it where ever we go and do and be proud of it, so why are you saying that Dr Owen Bonnici should had spoken in English, well done Owen. AHNA MALTIN U KBURIN U L-EU TGHIR GHALINA GHAL LINGWA LI GHANDNA SABIHA. VIVA MALTA.

j n ebejer

Dec 12th 2008, 18:22

@Ms Marthese Borg Manduca
Reading your comment almost has me believe, that we have already reached that point of ignorance!

G Mangion

Dec 12th 2008, 18:18

@ Sandro Agius , Onorevoli Owen Bonnici...missek qbadt u tlaqt il-barra kif darba ghamel Joseph Muscat. jew ahjar Guzeppi Muscat...hija tal-misthiha li bosta Ewropej iharsu lejn pajjizna b'certu hars daqs li kieku mhux Ewropej daqshom jekk mhux iktar minnhom.

Forsi Owen ma hux, Arroganti daqs Guzeppi Muscat...
anzi Aktar flexable minnu ??
IMMA KIF KOLLOX DIZGRAZZJA GHALIKHOM tal mlp/lptal mlp/lptal mlp/lp ??!!!

Marthese Borg Manduca

Dec 12th 2008, 17:29

Speaking Maltese is fine but you have to admit that English is more practical in the world. Do you realise that these interpreters are paid for from our taxes?

I am tired of this anti English feelings you know. If you speak English on the street people look at you funny and call you 'tal pepe'. What is this all about? Do you want Malta to go back into ignorance?

Sandro Agius

Dec 12th 2008, 17:14

I speak now in Maltese because this is to much now...insulting our mother language in this manner is not acceptable....yes English is an official language but that does not mean that English is our Mother Language....perche se e cosi io preferisco paralare la lingua Italiana...Onorevoli Owen Bonnici...missek qbadt u tlaqt il-barra kif darba ghamel Joseph Muscat. jew ahjar Guzeppi Muscat...hija tal-misthiha li bosta Ewropej iharsu lejn pajjizna b'certu hars daqs li kieku mhux Ewropej daqshom jekk mhux iktar minnhom.

Politici qumu min hemm u aghtu gieh lill-Mikiel Anton Vassalli u l-Dun Karm Psaila billi turu xi ssarfu.

Giov DeMartino

Dec 12th 2008, 17:10

Nixtieq naf kemm hemm minn dawk li qed jaqblu ma' Owen Bonnici li meta jimlew cekk,p.e.jimlewh bil-Malti bhalma naghmel jien?

Mr Fenech

Dec 12th 2008, 16:49

Im insulted but not hurt ! Im not playing the race card ! im not

Maltese is a wonderful Language ! A true laungauge born from necessity ! born from the Mediterranean !

And we Speak English proper Queens English why do think these language schools prosper over here ! We spaek clearer English than in many main European Cities and not a hibrid pop celeb hip hop mtv speak which they turn over in Urban London !

THE EU IS A TALKING SHOP WE & ONLY WE SHOULD DECIDE WHEN TO USE MALTESE ! WE LOSE IDENTITY OVER A ONE SIZE FITS ALL MENTALITY! THEN WHY NOT HAVE ENGLISH AS THE MAIN LANGUAGE THAT WILL GO DOWN WITH FRENCH & GERMANS !

I cant help but think that the 'youve got your head in the sand mentality its only a parlour Language argument ' belongs for the sunbathed chattering classes sunning it on along the Exiles sipping gin and tonic"

GIVE ME A KINNIE ANYDAY !

Alan Vella

Dec 12th 2008, 16:04

If there was no French interpreter, not only would the Frenchman have complained, but he would have refused to participate in the meeting.

Same goes for German.

Italian? He would have complained and refused for the simple reason that he probably doesn't even KNOW how to speak in English.

Owen complained, but went on to participate in English nonetheless.

I support his decision 100%. Not complaining would have belittled our language. Refusing to participate would have maybe been too much.

If Owen was at a private business meeting he wouldn't have complained and rightly so but this was not a private business meeting.

And this is not a question of whether Maltese should know both Maltese and English. That is NOT the point. This is a question of making a statement about who you are and where you're from. If you fail to see that then I'm sorry.

Daniela Cauchi Curmi

Dec 12th 2008, 15:42

If we are in the EU, yes why not in the European Parliament ,we don't have to talk in maltese ? We are part of it, cause we're maltese,and we should be proud of it.

a mifsud

Dec 12th 2008, 14:16

@lgalea
I say shame on you for not having a sense of humour.

Daniel Russell

Dec 12th 2008, 14:08

Hi Everyone
I can agree with both points of view here. Maltese as a language is sacred to the Maltese people and their culture and heritage and I respect that very much and also English is the language of commerce in the main, not just in Europe but worldwide, which is probably due to the trading links both historical and modern of UK and USA.
England as a country is have many people that speak just English, but an increasing proportion of arabic speakers (Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi) and also Slavic, European and Chinese etc. We have a very multicultural society where many people cant speak the first language.
I can speak German and French and as I have stated I would like to learn Maltese as I visit the country a great deal and respect the people and culture.
I think a bad decision of UK government was to end compulsory foreign languages after 11, so many children cannot even have the opportunity to learn as I did. You have it right in Malta learning several languages.

It isnt that one language is better than another, the EU should respect people's decision to speak in whatever tongue they want to.

G Chapman

Dec 12th 2008, 13:55

It is unfortunate that due to lack of interpreters Maltese was unable to be spoken - does this reflect on the government - I wonder? However the Maltese should be proud that they have two official languages and also be proud of being able to switch from one to the other when necessary. That's alot more than what some other country's nationals are able to do. So, Maltese, English? Who cares? We are competent and able to speak both, and more, and proud of it!

G. Curmi

Dec 12th 2008, 13:43

MP Owen Bonnici's actions smack of political grandstanding as if he is saying, "Arawni, kemm jien patrijott; qiegħed niddefendi lil Malta u l-ilsien Malti." There are many who consider his actions as showboating or playing to the gallery.

This comes hot on the heels of his recent suggestions that "it was time to consider encouraging young couples to live together for some time before they are married."

There are those who have attributed these missteps by Bonnici to youthful naiveté. May be so. Perhaps Bonnici might consider growing up, or at least acting like a grown up when representing Malta.

Stephen Muscat

Dec 12th 2008, 11:22

The comments below have confirmed what I was thinking.........many Maltese (me not included) are still living inside the box......well good luck to them.

Its the ones who want better for Malta and themselves that are the open-mined ones it seems

Maltese and English are BOTH equally important and those thinking otherwise might as well dig a hole and put their head in it.......

Carina Dimech

Dec 12th 2008, 10:44

Although i am not one to make a song and a dance about hard headedly speaking Maltese anywhere and everywhere i find this a deplorable incident and i do agree that Dr. Bonnici should have insisted that a solution be found and the issue addressed, I would also expect an apology from the joint committee.

I also STRONGLY agree with Mr. Farrugia when he says that we should be looking at the quality at the Maltese used. Languages do morphe but we need to be careful not to erode our linguistic heritage.

Carmel Esposito

Dec 12th 2008, 10:09

The mind boggles! Hundreds of comments on such an article. When you realise that this is the same country where it is now the accepted form to refer for example, to a “pressure cooker” as a prexxer kuker, your only option is to laugh it off.

Mike Magri

Dec 12th 2008, 08:45

What else could Dr. Bonnici do...!!?? Stand up and walk out..!!??

Nooo.. Of course not.... Since there were no maltese language interpreters around, he did the next best thing to participate in the debate, and spoke in english..

Above all... Why do we, after more than 4 years as full members of the EU, STILL have such shortages of maltese language interpreters......!!??!!?? Who`s fault is it..!!?? The EU`s or the Maltese Government`s.....!!??!!??

I think the Department of Information or any other compatable ministry, OWES US ALL AN EXPLANATION.......

On the other hand... Well Done Dr. Bonnici for doing your duty anyway..

H Dempster

Dec 12th 2008, 08:09

My dear Owen , why didnt you just walk out like old joseph did?

David Friggieri

Dec 12th 2008, 07:54

Ikkalmaw ftit, tridux?

I will continue in English because this is The Times of Malta.

The facts:
1)Maltese is an official language of the EU
2)All official documents are being translated into Maltese
3)There aren't enough MALTESE interpreters to ensure interpretation into and from Maltese at every single meeting. Full interpretation into all EU languages is generally only guaranteed at major meetings. This is the case with several other Member States which have smaller populations. It's a question of personnel. Can the EU create interpreters out of thin air? No, it can't. Owen Bonnici knows this.
4) Yes, it's slightly ironic that even a conference on languages doesn't guarantee full interpretation into and from all EU languages.

C.R. Taliana

Dec 12th 2008, 07:14

Of all the money wasting that goes on in the EU parlaiment etc... why is it that money is trying to be saved by having less interpreters????? And as someone already said before SAY IT TO THE FRENCH!!!

Austin Vella

Dec 12th 2008, 02:54

First of all i must say that the biggest mistake has to be in the reporting of this incident. "BANNED" seems a bit out of place here. No one can expect a speaker to communicate his message in a language alien to all the listeners If there were no translators available for the Maltese speakers, it was certainly an oversight by the organisers/EU civil servants, call them what you like. Don't blame it on our representatives.

N.Grima

Dec 12th 2008, 01:49

2/2

The Maltese O'level curriculum is itself pitiful: grammar and literature - whatabout history? business/professional Maltese? dialects? correct pronounciation and accent? ditation? conversation, bilateral and group? speech-giving? improvisation? I remember my French oral exam... was never great at grammar, yet when the exam ended and commented I wasn't satisfied, I was told that since we both understood all that was being said and we had a flowing and meaningful conversation, I had actually gone extremely well since that was the point of the course. L-Akkademja tal-Malti should see to update the curriculum rather than waste time banning off words because "one word is enough"... and then we're surprised that semitic words get lost.

I'll admit, there is some irony in there not being an interpreter at a meeting on European languages. But look at the glass half full... by showing that we are capable of using others' language just as ours, we invite foreigners to have a go at our language. It's certainly not a mammoth task - after all, our grammar has very few exceptions. The Australians certainly manange very well. ... Or maybe, Dr.Bonnici was just upset the he could not read off a paper.

N.Grima

Dec 12th 2008, 01:48

1/2

It's a matter of national pride... we're good at many languages and at adapting! That's the pride! Why make such a case out of having to switch? The Swiss certainly don't! The very definition of a language is communication - if nobody understands you, it's useless. Ever heard certain European leaders and VIPs try to speak in English? The interpreter is not an identity defense but an utter need for them, else nobody understands! There's a reason why students flood this island for English lessons. We might aswell show it off! Plus, there's less risk of erraneous interpretation.

Speaking Maltese in the EU does little towards the language - take Latin... it's used in church and at academic ceremonies; yet it's dead, since nobody converses in it. To safeguard our language, change the way it's used and taught at schools - e.g. back in my secondary school days, we were made to always speak in English but in the Maltese lesson... Indeed, at university, many-a-time students ended up mocked as "unprofessional" by lecturers when they dared give a presentation in Maltese rather than in English, costing them precious marks for an otherwise [?] greatly done job).

carmen caruana

Dec 11th 2008, 23:30

nispera m'hawnx min ihossu superjuri ghax jitkellem u jikteb bil-malti jigifieri!!! kull sugett li nistudja huwa bl-inglis u l-'lectures' huma kollha bl-inglis xorta nhosni kburija li nitkellem bil-malti. M'ghandiex imaqdru dak li huma taghna.

J Mallia

Dec 11th 2008, 22:29

Din hija kwistjoni ta' nuqqas ta' interpreti kkwalifikati biex jaħdmu mal-PE u mhux kaz li nippuntaw subgħajna lejn dak jew l-ieħor. Il-PE, bħall-istituzzjonijiet l-oħra tal-UE, ilu s-snin jitħabat biex ikollu biżżejjed interpreti għall-Malti. Il-problema hi li x-xogħol ta' interpretu huwa ferm iebes, u dan, flimkien maċ-ċokon tagħna, qed jirriżulta li mhux qed jinstabu nies biżżejjed. Lanqas tradutturi m'hemm biżżejjed fl-istituzzjonijiet, aħseb u ara interpreti!!

lgalea

Dec 11th 2008, 21:48

That shows beyond a shadow of doubt that the eu treats Malta, the Maltese people and the Maltese language with contempt.

Dr Bonnici should have defied the order and delivered his speech in Maltese or left and hold a press conference explaining his action and lack of respect for OUR language.

Do we need any more proof that we have again been a colony of the eu which treats us with contempt? Let's get out of the colonialism that we have been led into.

Lee Micallef
Shame on you lee. Shame and shame again for showing lack of respect towards your mother tongue.

Carl Engerer et al
Although we have two official languages the priority and national language is Maltese.

Article 2
5. (1) The National language of Malta is the Maltese Language.

SHAME ON ALL THOSE WHO TRY TO BELITTLE AND DENIGRATE OUR LANGUAGE.
MAYBE WE HAVE BOTH LANGUAGES IN THE CONSTITUTION, BUT OUR LANGUAGE IS MALTESE. ENGLISH IS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.

Nikita Zammit Alamango

Dec 11th 2008, 21:42

@ Mr. Engerer

There is a huge difference between you and me, however on such an issue i think we can do away with bi-partisan politics. Initially you were the first to mention "Any educated Maltese individual should be able to speak good English. Just knowing Maltese you definitely have your limits otherwise!"

In essence there is nothing wrong with Dr Bonnici delivering his speech in English, he could have done it in Italian for all i know. The point you and some others are missing here, is that Maltese is an official language just like French or German and so we should be treated accordingly, and not belittle ourselves.

Of course his duty was to express our views on the issue of languages. However, it was not possible for him to do so using his and our native language which is absolutely unacceptable.

Your comment in the sense that the message gets lost in translation is definately out of point.
Firstly translators are professionals who are expected and mostly do their jobs well. Secondly the main issue at stake here was that during a European conference on languages, Owen was not allowed to speak in Maltese.

Joe Scerri

Dec 11th 2008, 21:17

What a pity that such a trivial issue should generate so much heated debate.

A. Briffa

Dec 11th 2008, 21:00

the same happened in the european website - europeana - some sorty of wikipedia - with all the european union official languages - and guess what - Maltese was not there

- " u l-Kotra qamet f'daqqa u ghajjtet "

Fejn hi dik il-kotra??

c.t. busuttil

Dec 11th 2008, 20:50

Mr Joe Xuereb from London, what are you on about. Please pull your head out of the sand and ask around. Govt correspondence reaches us in one of our languages, Maltese. Also, we now enjoy several TV and radio stations which use Maltese. Newspapers too (but no magazines yet!). try searching the web.

Mr.Jeff Rogers

Dec 11th 2008, 20:48

@Carmel Vella@ Sorry my friend you lost me, i couldn't understand one word of it. I would have thought the Times being an English newspaper, yet you commented in maltese., i shall have to invest in buying a maltese-english dictionary i guess, Happy Xmas.

victor vella

Dec 11th 2008, 20:48

Well done Owen, u din gejja minn Nazzjonalist. Paul Borg, I tend to believe that PL was right when they never believed that the Maltese language our own unique language would ever be officially accepted in the EU, we have been members long enough now and the temporary problems are still there , or is this one other thing that Dr Fenech Adami for got to tell us in the run up to the referendum?

Alfred Farrugia

Dec 11th 2008, 19:32

I may be wrong but it appears to me that Maltese is an official EU language because our Government took the appropriate steps. This is not automatic as some contributors appear to believe.

If it were so, Turkish Cypriots who are EU citizens would have the right to communicate with the EU in the Turkish language. But this is not the case because Cyprus did not take any steps to make Turkish an official language of the EU. Incidentally, there are German MEPs who were born in Ankara, and they do not have the opportunity to speak their native language!

It is not enough to have Maltese as an official EU language. It is important that we continue to make efforts so that the Maltese language used, at least in written form, is as correct as possible.

Dr.Emmy Bezzina, LL.D.,Dip.S.Th.,

Dec 11th 2008, 19:09

Both Maltese and Queen`s English [ UK ] are the official languages of our Island Sovereign State.On the other hand,MALTESE is the sole official language of the Malta Courts of Justice.While I fully comprehend Dr Bonnici`s reaction to his situation, he did the correct move to proceed with his speech in the English tongue as otherwise whatever Message was being conveyed would have been lost.For the Record, the official language of the EU Courts of Justice is FRENCH and a knowledge of FRENCH is a tremendous asset within the EU Overall Structure.Re unnecessary expenses,we as EU Citizens must halt the gross mishandling of EU Funds by the unnecessary travelling between Brussels,Strasbourg & Luxembourg where the Secretariat sits in the first,the Parliament in the Second and the Administration & Courts in the Third - this by and large: this is causing not only many funds to be thrown to the winds literally, but such funding could be utilised more profitably elsewhere.There is much that amounts to sheer waste within the EU...but then do we truly know what our own MEPs are pocketing under the EU Perks & Allowances for the MEPs ? Informing ourselves will no doubt help!

Joseph Brincat

Dec 11th 2008, 19:07

Good for you Dr. Bonnici, at least you are being paid those extra euros in your weekly salary, that I am forging out of my pension, to be able to practice your english, If I were you I would have delivered my speech in Maltese just the same. I hope that the Labour party issues a directive in this sense.

J Farrugia

Dec 11th 2008, 18:01

The problem with interpreters into Maltese is simply one of manpower. Not so with translators who are earning good money and doing some very good work. So said Mr Joe Felice Pace. Is this true? Just take a look at the Maltese version of the EU website and you will laugh your heart out with the STUPIDITIES in the translation service. POLLUZZJONI (Polution). Is this a maltese word? instead of TNIGGIZ!!! Hallina Joe felice Pace. Mur ghidha lil Marines.

J. Schembri

Dec 11th 2008, 17:48

@Gerard Cassar : if Flemish is an official language then he can speak Flemish.

Carmel Vella

Dec 11th 2008, 17:43

Qrajt xi kummenti u qed nisthu flok min kitibhom.

Fejn wasalna, jewwilla tridu li nnehhu l-Malti ghall-Ingliz. Mhux bizzejjed li tisma r-radju u certu nies jitkellmu u hlief kliem ippastardjat ma tismax, ghallkemm hemm klien Maltin ghalijhom. Tikkonfondi jekk humiex jithaddu bil-Malti jew b'xi lsien iehor u jdeffsu xi kelma Maltija fin-nofs.

Li noqtlu l-Malti jonqos.

Bilhaqq, naf nikteb u nitkellem bil-Malti ghalkemm ghext u studjat ghall xi snin l-Ingilterra.

Paul portelli

Dec 11th 2008, 17:39

Malta Malta dear malta.the comments i read is coming from your fellow childrin or from forigners.keep it up owen fight as always for the maltese

GORDON HEWITT

Dec 11th 2008, 17:36

"Well done, Lee!" Surely that has to be the most perceptive comment made so far?

Gerard Cassar

Dec 11th 2008, 17:32

Canada is a bilingual country, just like Malta and Belgium. I wonder what the Flemish people speak in Brussels at E.U. meetings. Is it Flemish or French? If they speak French probably it is not always France's French but a Belgian French, for example seventy to ninety-nine are different. In Belgium, septante, octante and novante, at least that is how it used to be over 50 years ago.
All official documents are in both languages in Belgium, Flemish and French and Canada, in English and French all over both countries. What kind of French they speak officially I cannot say except with regards to numbers. Probably a French dialect. This in order to suit the population. Malta is a bilingual country to suit some intellectuals and text books are in English.
However there is another reason for Malta. Gaining independence Malta did not have a Maltese head of Government but an English speaking person, and the presence of English forces had a bearing on the issue of the official languages.
There exist only one fault Nationalists (what a misnomer) politicians who were not in favour of Maltese. In fact it was never studied in schools before the war.

a mifsud

Dec 11th 2008, 16:56

@ G Hewitt
......because this is an English language newspaper....all 38 should be in English.

Alfred Farrugia

Dec 11th 2008, 16:41

May I suggest to MP Owen Bonnici and our other MEPs to take this opportunity to take a good look at the quality of the Maltese language being used, particularly in its written form in EU documents.

As a previous contributor has correctly stated, Maltese is the only EU language that has a Semitic origin. We need to resist the temptation of diluting our own language by selecting “Italian “ derivatives instead of using equally valid terms in the vernacular, or their original Maltese idiom.

I wish to suggest that strategic offices, such as the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Information, be staffed with teams of experts in the Maltese language, both written and spoken.

While lawyers may continue to use flowery “Maltese” language in their deliberations, the time has come for our University to upgrade the teaching of Maltese to law and other students, if we really wish to preserve the uniqueness of our mother tongue. In the absence of enough experts in Maltese, perhaps a number of retired teachers of Maltese could be recruited until we have enough people in key positions proficient in the Maltese language.

Lee Micallef

Dec 11th 2008, 16:14

I wonder if Mr Bonnici complained that they didnt have Pastizzi's or Hobz biz zejt washed down with a cool kinnie for lunch ....... after all it is now part of the Eurpean cusine ;0)

Carl Engerer

Dec 11th 2008, 16:10

@Nikita Zammit Alamango

The difference between you and me is that I never believed this is about national pride, disrespecting our language nor MP's ability to speak English. We are always there to boast about the fact we have two official languages and that a large percentage of us are bilingual. So what is wrong about the our MP speaking in English?.Our MP's responsibilty is express our views to the rest of the EU or is our MP more interested in hearing himself speak in Maltese than getting his message across?. Should we demand our MP's allowed to speak Maltese just for the sake of national pride and let his or her message lost in translation?

GORDON HEWITT

Dec 11th 2008, 16:07

Why are only 2 out of the 38 replies written in Malti!?!

Joe Xuereb (London UK)

Dec 11th 2008, 16:04

@ Pat Muscat. Thank you. Thank you for the wonderul quote from Dun Karm. Which reminded me of what is fast becoming one of my cliches, so often have I said it in these comment columns viz. when a state wants to subdue another, one of the first things it does is to forbid the speaking of the language of the people it wants to subdue. Examples abound. And yet. And yet, we Maltese people do this to ourselves. The writing on the wall is that Maltese is a lost cause. And the attitude is, English is what I know best, it makes the world my oyster, it will take me far, and the rest of the pathetic rationalisations. But it begs the questions, how is one to communicate with those who for one reason or another, never got to grips with English? You know, the elderly, the very elderly, and so on? Surely this language question is not helping communication between the different generations. Just a thought!
I have not once mentioned Owen Bonnici, the EU, the availability (or lack) of interpreters. This was deliberate as I did not want to miss the wood for the trees.

Anthony Portelli

Dec 11th 2008, 16:02

il huta zghira ...........:)

a mifsud

Dec 11th 2008, 15:58

Nobody has asked what language all the other speakers used, and if anybody else made such a childish fuss.

Warren F Sammut

Dec 11th 2008, 15:52

Although English is EXTREMELY important to us as part of the global village, let me point out that if you go to Barcelona they'll raise a brow if you talk to them in Spanish, they'd pretend that you know Catalan. And they're right.
If you speak to Parisians in English, they don't even consider you. If you try speaking English with an Italian, they will remain dumbfounded because they wouldn't understand you. Not only that, but probably they speak a local/regional language such as Naplitan, Bolognese, Lombard, etc. To them English is unheard of.

But some 10,000 here want that the remaining 390,000 start talking English. Let me remind you that the vast majority of the Maltese speak Maltese. However if we agree with the pro-English, we can start have TVM and Radju Malta, I mean Radio Malta, in English, Mass Meetings in English, etc. Who cares about Maltese, right?
It is due to the passiveness of the many here, that we have signs, advertising, businesses, etc., all in English. No one ever dares to write in favour of Maltese to those in power. And to think that half the population is NATION-alist.

Insomma, saħħa, ċaw, inselli għalikom u bonswa.

Joe Xuereb (London UK)

Dec 11th 2008, 15:44

cont./ Since leaving my country near enough half a century ago, I have been based in London with sporadic travel for pleasure and enlightenment. In other words, the language learning was the result of sheer hard graft and not living 'abroad' from London. Witnessing the state of Maltese today is for me quite painful. I almost envy foreign groups when I go about my business here and hear them speak their language, whichever that my be. And I ask myself, why can't my language be like that, fluent, seamless and totally impenetrable with no token foreign additions like 'ormai' and all the rest. When you speak Maltese, you speak Maltese. Punto e basta.
PS Did I say seven? Should that be eight to include Arabic? No, Arabic does not count. Maltese IS Arabic so there is no accolade there.

Charles Sammut

Dec 11th 2008, 15:43

The Maltese language was only included as one of the official EU languages as a sop to the EUrosceptics.

In any case nobody who has a point to make and who has a iota of common sense would speak in Maltese. First of all few people can speak in Dun Karm's Maltese and if they did, a lot would be lost in translation anyway.

J. Borg

Dec 11th 2008, 15:40

It is commendable that Maltese is recognised at EU level, however
would it not be better if the possibly millions of euros being spent on translators - be directed to support Maltese writers, publishers, drama.....an a reliable Maltese spell check?

Giov DeMartino

Dec 11th 2008, 15:38

Why should we be allowed to speak Maltese in Brussels when in Malta the Maltese citizen is normally addressed in English by all government departments? Once I rang the social service department in Valletta and the employee who answered me asked me to speak in English because he did not understand Maltese! Government departments, commercial banks, ministries...wherever you go you are normally addressed in English. I have been complaining in the local about this stupidity for a very long time.

Maria Dolores Fenech

Dec 11th 2008, 15:36

Where were the interpreters? This is not the first time that somebody tries to deliver a speech in Maltese and l-interpreters bahh. Nixfet il-kaxxa ta' Malta? M'ghadx fadlilna flus biex inhallsu l-interpreti biex ma jkomplux iwaqqghu ghac-cajt lil Lingwa Maltija? Dr Gonzi kuntent b'din is-sitwazzjoni? Jekk le, jibqa' ma jaghmel xejn bhal ma' ghamel x'issa? Damu jiftahru tant li tant m'ahniex se nitilfu l-identita` taghna meta nidhlu fl-Ewropa li l-Malti se jkun wiehed mil-Lingwi Ufficjali ta' l-EU. Imma x'jiswa? Bhal meta tghid li ghandek dghajsa imma ma tiflahx thallas ghad-diesel biex tuzaha.

Konna, ghadna u nibqghu, pajjiz tal-Mickey Mouse...... (nahseb li J Bundy jaqbel mieghi).

Joe Camilleri

Dec 11th 2008, 15:35

George Orwell's novell springs to my mind. "Animal Farm"

2nd class citizens, no more no less

Anthony Grech

Dec 11th 2008, 15:34

It is amazing how many so called Maltese are party blind and are ready to sell their mother for their party. Licking shoes will get us only to lick more shoes.

Stephen Muscat

Dec 11th 2008, 15:33

A reminder to all those concerned who either do not know or do not want to know..........The Constitution of Malta states that Malta has 2 (TWO) official languages, that is, BOTH (and not one or the other) ENGLISH & MALTESE

This means that as citizens of Malta we are recognised as a bi-lingual nation - the same as Switzerland, Belgium and others.

This also means that Maltese are expected to speak and understand BOTH languages. Those that speak or want Maltese only, and those that speak and want English only are the ones causing mayhem......and this because of their stubborness.

The fact that Maltese is recognised by the EU does not mean that we should act like kids.......but rather than that we sould act like adults and be proud of our bi-language skills.

Furthermore, how is it that we complain about wasting money and taxes on so many issues, but we dont mention all the money (that could be used otherwise to make the EU a better place) that is wasted on interpretors and document translations for people (Maltese) that can understand English just the same

Shameful but true.

Joe Xuereb (London UK)

Dec 11th 2008, 15:26

@ Mauro Ossola. Was English as official language of Malta mandated BY the people or FOR them? There is a huge difference.
@ Carl Engerer. Any educated Maltese person should have an idiomatic grasp of English, a notoriously difficult language in that respect. And more importantly, any Maltese worth his/her salt should speak and write correct Maltese. Most people on the planet (intelligent high- achievers among them) speak only their language and cope when away from home base. The Maltese would do the same. Citing the language's 'smallness' and its limitations is a pathetic red herring.
I am afraid the comments here sadly reflect the state of our one and true official language. English, useful as it is, has been nothing but a spanner in the works all along. Shame!
I need to make a point, at the risk of sounding boastful - so what! I speak and write seven languages (five of which I 'breathe', meaning near perfect. cont./

Emanuel Muscat

Dec 11th 2008, 15:18

There are 34 comments on this topic so far,and only two are in maltese!Why?Because we are commenting on the website of an english daily and this is in Malta,not in Brussels:being too touchy about one's language is a sign of an inferiority complex:can you calculate how many interpreters would be needed if one considers that there are approx. 28 languages in the EU and if everybody insists he/she wants to speak and hear everything said in his/her language the number of interpreters required for every meeting would be many thousands,factorial 27 actually!Common sense ,please!

P.Schembri

Dec 11th 2008, 15:15

@Paul Borg. That's because now that we're in Europe, we tried to get the best out of Europe, and at the same time stand up for what is ours! The present government is doing this. Just look at that infamous pack about immigration. Instead of pressing home for a pact to our advantage, the government just gave in for something voluntary! Who would in his right mind, let into his country countless illegal immigrants, just to ease some of the pressure on our shoulders? That's why PL now wants to be the best in Europe, because now we are in Europe and we want to get the best. Especially funds. It was shown that we're giving more than what we're getting funds! Of course the present Government is doing this not the PL in opposition. I hope you know that!

joe felice pace

Dec 11th 2008, 15:12

All the fuss about Maltese "being accepted" as an EU language!! Maltese had to be an EU language because the EU constitution states that any EU citizen has the right to communicate with EU insitutions and get a reply in his language. Even before Malta's accession I was officially told in Brussels that we could not get funds from the EU Bureau for lesser-used languages because Maltese was our national language and we have no minority language in Malta.
The idea of having had a sort of "fight" to "give" Maltese its proper status must have been foisted upon us because there was somebody from Malta who may not have been happy at such a situation.
The problem with interpreters into Maltese is simply one of manpower. Not so with translators who are earning good money and doing some very good work.

C Mallia

Dec 11th 2008, 15:11

Being the smallest language (as to population) of the EU, Maltese is always going to face a tough uphill struggle to be completely at par with the other official languages. Speaking in Maltese is not just about national pride but it also shows our diversity and cultural heritage embracing us with the rest of the eu. "United in diversity" is after all the EU motto.

It is very shortsighted for certain "Maltese " people to simply rule out Maltese, simply its because it is spoken by 400000 people, or because there are no interpreters, or because its to create useless jobs, or because we have english.

Thank you Owen Bonnici for speaking up about it and may all other real Maltese people have the courage to at least complain whenever these thing happen. Being passive about our national identity is definately not an option.

Nikita Zammit Alamango

Dec 11th 2008, 15:07

I read the comments below and feel disgraced at some fellow citizens who not only accept others disrespecting our language but also belittle their own language!

I obviously expected much more substance from Mr. Engerer's comment. Undoubtedly, i am sure that no one here doubts Dr Bonnici's capability of speaking English. This is definitely not the issue! Nor is it the fact if there were translators available from Maltese to Finnish or Slovak because I am sure that Mr. Engerer is aware that in such cases a 'middle man' is used. Therefore, Maltese is translated to English then English translated to Slovak, for instance.

I cannot help to feel disillusioned by people who accept speaking English in a joint meeting regarding EU Languages and multilingualism. Ironically, Maltese is an apt mirror of culture encompassing Semitic and Latin which happens to be the only official language in the EU of its kind. We should be proud of our language! Even if we happen to speak 4/5 languages, Maltese is still the National language according to our constitution.

Well done Owen... and I appreciate all the similar comments below.

Julian Brincat

Dec 11th 2008, 15:01

No Noel Cutajar because if you come to my house you can expect a knife and fork there because they are the most commonly used. If you wanted to eat your meal with spade i would expect you to bring your own as this is less regularly used.

That I feel leads me to my point. As much as Maltese is an "official language of the EU" and we are all proud to be Maltese and have our own language and so on, we cannot demand that it is used if it impractible to do so. It is not always easy to conduct a useful discussion in Maltese when the talk could be just as easily and a lot more efficiently conducted in English. We can be proud of our language and country but we have to recognise that we are a very very very small minority and in the bigger picture have to make concessions. Which is why the French and Germans would obviously take a different stance if this was the case for them.

Muscat.Pat

Dec 11th 2008, 14:44

Those of you who tried to beliitle Owen Bonnici suffer from low self esteem. A conference on European languages, where the Maltese would stand out as a jewel of the crown...a language with its own literature and alive and kicking! Ah Dun Karm's dictum : "Qatt tbarri lil min hu ta gewwa" is still relevant to-day. And this is not about local little Malta politics either, Owen was representing us, and in case you might not know, foreigners respect us when we stand out for our rights, and evade us when we try to be their lackeys!

Paul Borg

Dec 11th 2008, 14:33

If i remeber well the MLP now PL never beleived that the Maltese language would be an official language of the EU. So why is Dr Bonnici complaining now? If it was for him he would not had any choice. He would have spoken in English just the same.

Noel Cutajar

Dec 11th 2008, 14:22

@ John Borg - pathetic comment from a misinformed person. Did you know that Dr. Owen Bonnici is an MP of the Maltese Parliament? Try to distinguish between the two!!

Well knowing us Maltese, when we have to stand up we sit down and discuss stupid matters instead of the real issue. The commission would know beforehand who is coming and they must ensure that all languages are available. It is not Dr. Bonnici who must provide them. Shall I bring my knife and fork if I am a guest at your house?

Jeremy J Camilleri

Dec 11th 2008, 14:19

Shades of Igsma tal-pariri?

The Maltese language officially accepted by the EU gimmick is finally showing for what it really was....

On the other hand, I think it is high time to discuss whether the English Language should continue to be considered as an official language in Malta.

Judging by the poor level of spoken and written English by most Maltese, this might also prove to be just a charade.

Ramon Casha

Dec 11th 2008, 14:16

It is shameful that in a joint committee of the EP and the Maltese Parliament, and especially a meeting about the importance of the European languages, no interpreter was available! The EU needs to pull up its socks if it wants to be taken seriously.

Charmaine Chetcuti

Dec 11th 2008, 14:10

this should be like the joke of the week or something...not the fact that Owen Bonnici protested but the fact that in a conference where the focus was on languages, a language was banned from being used. Where were the conference organizers when they were organizing the event? Didn't they realise that since Maltese is an official language of the EU they should have prepared for a translator to be present? Isn't it their responsibility?

Owen Bonnici should not have delivered his speech just as I remember Joseph Muscat once did when translation of his speech was not available. Maltese is either an official language or not. Maltese is not inferior to other languages just because it is spoken by fewer people.

Translators are available for all other languages. What would have a French, German or Spanish MP have done if the same happened to them?

Mario Tabone-Vassallo

Dec 11th 2008, 14:09

This is not a criticism of Dr Bonnici. But why criticise the EU when, in Malta, all adverts clogging our post box are in English, many radio and TV programmes are in English, Government officials write and speak to one in English, virtually all studies are in English, many conferences are in English, all singns at the University and Mater Dei are in English, many billboards are in English, even a course on Maltese Identities is in English?

George Cremona

Dec 11th 2008, 13:54

I agree with those who said that Hon. Bonnici should have refrained from speaking in English under protest since Maltese is recognized by EU. The fact that the Commission hadn't an interpreter to translate Maltese would not justify to accede to its ban. After all it's the Commission's responsibility and obligation to provide interpreters. Hon. Bonnici did well when he protested orally but would have done better were he to take a firm stand in favour of our language by not speaking in any other language than Maltese.

A. Briffa

Dec 11th 2008, 13:51

In making Maltese language important as it should be, I urge the government to enforce the subject in ALL schools and given as much importance as English.

Why do you say English is better than Maltese? Do you call your mother by name? or Mother? in this case, as you give importance to your mother, you should give importance to our lost Malta!

John Borg

Dec 11th 2008, 13:46

Is this how Owen Bonnici tries to justify his cushy job in Brussels?

Daniel Russell

Dec 11th 2008, 13:44

I agree with many other comments here. Just one question I wanted to ask, I am English and cannot speak Maltese but know very odd words I like to try and use which I have picked up. Would it be possible to undertake a course on the internet in basic maltese, distance learning for example as I visit a lot and would like to learn.
Incidentally I have a strong Black Country dialect (West Midlands and not confused with Brummie!) and if I went to the EU, they would stop me speaking my dialect too probably!

P Sultana

Dec 11th 2008, 13:38

I wonder: Was Dr Bonnici perhaps required to inform the conference that he intended to make his address in Maltese? I also wonder: was the speech worth all this aggro? Can we obtain a copy (in either Maltese or English)?

Tristan Camilleri

Dec 11th 2008, 13:29

Maltese is our National language apart from being an official language of the EU. With respect to interpretation I hope that no one thinks that you would have an interpreter knowing the different languages for example Finnish to Maltese. They would use the french, english or other more common language.

Tim Ripard

Dec 11th 2008, 13:25

I'm proud of Malta and proud to be multilingual but I think that many people confuse the 'right' to speak Maltese in European fora with an expression of national pride. I don't know the facts but it would seem that since no interpreters were present it was understood that this particular meeting would be conducted in English. In that case Mr Bonnici's complaint would seem petulant and bad-mannered, particularly if he is fluent in English, and would reflect badly on Malta. As I say, it depends on the facts of the matter, which are not made known in this article.

Unlike Mr Joe Grech, I tend to think that being able to use two (or more) languages well is a better demonstration of national pride than insisting on the exclusive use of Maltese at international meetings when this is impractical and unnecessary. It is a subtle way of showing superiority or at least achievement whilst monolingualism on the other hand implies limitations.

Franco Farrugia

Dec 11th 2008, 13:21

When I read certain comments, I am so sorry to call myself Maltese.

Of course, the Hon. Bonnici said the right thing.

James Grech

Dec 11th 2008, 13:15

As a person who is familiar with the institutions I can say that interpretation is sometimes not available in Maltese since there are not enough qualified interpreters who can work for all the hours of sittings which require interpretation. Unfortunately of course it was ironic that there was no interpretation for this sitting concerning European languages. But this Owen Bonnici press release of him being "banned" from speaking Maltese is outright pathetic.

Owen you would have done yourself and your image a favour if you avoided issuing this press release.

Charles Muscat

Dec 11th 2008, 13:04

Lucky Mr. Bonnici was not a threat in the EU committee. Our language is like the European song contest. It does not fit in.

Carl Engerer

Dec 11th 2008, 13:00

Mauro Ossola, I agree with you totally

I am happy to hear that. English is an official language here in Malta and we all should be proud of it and demonstrate it. Any educated Maltese individual should be able to speak good English. Just knowing Maltese you definitely have your limits otherwise!. It will definitely help with communication in the EU Parliament. Why complain? by the way, how many Finish, Slovak or Bulgarian translators do you know who can translate to and from Maltese?

anthony Mizzi

Dec 11th 2008, 12:58

I am proud of being maltese and proud of my language,just a note to all lets do like the romans do when we go to brussel we will speak english or french,but lets face it ,when eu menbers come to MALTA they must speak maltese period.
It`s they that they are admitting thier stupidily not us .Well done Joseph Muscat you realy told them already in brussels how proud you are with our langauge

J.Borg

Dec 11th 2008, 12:56

Where have all the interpreters gone....those we boasted a lot on joining the EU and that we could go an speak in Maltese.....
@ M.Ossola
Of course we have 2 languages...but the official one is Maltese and we should be proud of it.
The point of this that before and after joining the EU we used to boast that we could speak Maltese...but it seems this never materialsed!!!!

Peter Carabott

Dec 11th 2008, 12:53

Imissu għamel bħal ma kien għamel Joseph Muscat ... imissu irrifjuta li jagħmel il-preżentazzjoni tiegħu.

Jaqbadni il-biki meta nara Maltin jippruvaw iwaqqgħu l-lingwa tagħna għaċ-ċajt ... kif tridu li jirrispettawna il-barranin??!?!?!?

Jeremy Grech

Dec 11th 2008, 12:53

Mr.Mauro Ossola, where other European Countries are doing everything to save even their dialects as they see them as cultural heritage , we in Malta call our dialects as "bl-imghawweg" and try to ridicule our language ourselves just to show how much cool we are with the foreigners.

H Gatt

Dec 11th 2008, 12:43

The point that seems to escape everyone is that this conference was on european languages! So all arguments about wasting money or national pride are irrelevant. What is pertinent to keep in mind is that the EU recognises Maltese as an official language and we maltese dishonour this recognition by not sending any interpreters. If we don't support or respect our own language how can we expect someone else to?! Tal-misthija!

Charles Micallef

Dec 11th 2008, 12:39

SOME OF US, LIKE TO CREATE AN ISSUE IN THE NAME OF PATRIOTISM AND IN THE MEANTIME REMIND US THAT THEY EARNING THEIR KEEP!

Mauro Ossola

Dec 11th 2008, 12:36

I think everybody is proud to have " il malti" as official language of the European Union, from the other side we can't forget that we have also another official language which is not finnish, not bulgarian or a remote greek dialect but it is ENGLISH, therefore complaining for being required to speak during an official meeting in one of our official languages it really seems a bit excessive.....

Joe Grech

Dec 11th 2008, 12:35

Mp.Owen Bonnici, you should have refrained from delivering the speech. I wonder if a French or a German would have done in this situation. This is just a shame for all we Maltese who have some pride in our nation. I wonder what our MPE' s would say. I just don't believe what we Maltese have become. All others make fun of us and of our cultures, we are bullied even by our own country men and women for using the Maltese Language. I work at a governmental entity and I am daily bullied not to use Maltese in writing my minutes in files and reports for the locals, and nothing is being done. Yes I am being bullied for speaking and writing in my native language.

Robert Paul Galea

Dec 11th 2008, 12:32

I think Mr. Bonnici did the right thing in raising the flag and noting that Maltese should be allowed (since we agreed to have it as an official language) but nonetheless he proceeded with his speech in English. I believe that is the right attitude.

Although I continuously support the Maltese language and its use may I please note that having Maltese recognised as an official language of the EU is a joke and a waste of funds.

chris camilleri

Dec 11th 2008, 12:31

jien naqbel ma L.Coleiro.

Il-malti huwa lingwa ufficjali ta l-unjoni ewropea!! il-kumitant kongunt tal-unjoni ewropea missu haseb minn qabel sabiex ikollu prezenti interpreti. Nahseb jien li l-ewropej, ormai draw li ahna l-Maltin submissivi ghal li jghidu huma. Ezempju car huwa kif Dr. Bonnici kellu jadatta ghas-sitwazzjoni!

John Saliba

Dec 11th 2008, 12:30

@Savona & Micallef
Maltese pride down the drain.

a azzopardi

Dec 11th 2008, 12:25

Isn't it time this nonsense stopped? This silly posturing impresses no one.
Having Maltese as an 'official EU language' was nothing more than a ploy to create more (ultimately useless) jobs and sinecures with the institutions. Now we must start reasoning as European taxpayers, and stop this waste of our tax euros.

J Farrugia

Dec 11th 2008, 12:22

Much ado about nothing. This newly elected MP had better start learning lessons which those entering the political arena should have known earlier instead of making a rumpus.

EGauci

Dec 11th 2008, 12:22

I'm sorry for all those who fail to see the point in Mr Bonnici's action!!

L. Coleiro

Dec 11th 2008, 12:20

@ Savona & Micallef

Say that to the French!!!

Lee Micallef

Dec 11th 2008, 12:13

Well if there were no interpreters how would anybody else understand what he was saying ??? Common sense would say speak in a language where the majority would understand.

Paul Savona

Dec 11th 2008, 12:10

It is great the Maltese has been recognized as an official European language.

I however do not see why he was complaining. If there was no interpreter present it would not have made sense to speak in a language that is only understood by 400,000 European Citizens.

Also, to be honest and brutally practical, if it saved the tax payer the cost of having an interpreter present (and other countries agree to follow suit) it is all well and good he spoke in English.

Tanja Cilia

Dec 11th 2008, 12:02

X'kull waħda, hux? It's all Greek to the people who think that Maltese is Double Dutch.