Owen Bonnici
Putting glass to the Maltese language
It seems that by and large, the Maltese society shared the same feeling of utter disgust that I felt at the idea that the Maltese language could not be used during an official European conference on languages, held at the European Parliament, because of lack of translators.
Let me put it straight. The government should be ashamed that after nearly five full years of European Union membership it is still allowing the Maltese language to be treated as a kind of third class language in the EU. It is not only a question of nationalism but, an issue of holding our heads high about being Maltese and, even more so Maltese in Europe.
Truth is there is more to Maltese than it merely being an official language of the EU. Of course, placing Maltese among the 23 official languages of the EU is an important feat but Maltese did not need this "stamp" of approval to certify it as one of the most exciting languages in Europe. Its beauty literally speaks for itself.
For the benefit of foreigners who might be reading this article, Maltese is the epitome of inter-cultural dialogue in that it is structurally unique and rich, embracing two apparently distinct worlds: the Semitic and Latin worlds. Irrespective of the fact that it is spoken by fewer than half a million people worldwide, Maltese per se is every linguist's dream and music to the ears.
There's yet another dimension. In a world where globalisation is slowly turning peoples and nations into a pallid imitation of each other, distinguishing factors like native languages are the buttresses that trumpet the diversity and richness of each and every other people.
And we Maltese, the smallest people in the EU in terms of numbers, have an extraordinary language that makes us stand out from the rest. It is time to realise that we need to promote and celebrate our own language, not only for culture's sake, but also for our own good as a nation. Of course, we need to do so within the context of bilingualism.
I am sick and tired of seeing us ditching the Maltese language, even in the smallest, mundane things like filling a cheque in English with no provision of "cheque templates" in Maltese or the government placing a sign near a public building or a monument exclusively in English when the two languages could have been used next to each other. In a country where even the authority which has the aim of promoting and preserving our patrimony as a country is named in English (I am referring to Heritage Malta), I really believe that us lawmakers should use the force of law to implement regulations aimed at increasing respect to our mother language within the context of a bilingual nation.
We need a Maltese Language Act. We need a law that would create a regulatory authority promoting the use of Maltese and ensuring compliance with a basic set of rules, like obliging all organisations and quangos in the public sector providing services to the public to treat Maltese and English on an equal basis in everything they do. And, why not? It would also be a good idea to give this authority power to scold journalists who repeatedly use horrendous Maltese in their stories!
Ludwig Wittgenstein, the famous philosopher of language, said that had we spoken a different language we would have perceived a somewhat different world. This is the extent of the impact of our language on the world as we see it.
Not caring for your native language is like looking at the world through shattered glass.
Dr Bonnici is the opposition spokesman on youth and culture.
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karmenu attard
May 2nd 2009, 05:48
Dear Honourable Bonnici,
You wrote at the end of your first paragraph ".....................because of a lack of translators". You mean a lack of interpreters surely. There is a big difference between an interpreter and translator. Secondly what does your party plan to do about the problem. Considering that your party was originally against joining the EU, I think your comments are a bit rich.
sahha
Karmenu tal-Awstralja
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 9th 2009, 17:42
Ghandek kull ragun pero nixtieq nikteb bl Ingliz sabiex persuni baranin li hemm jhixu Malta u qatt ma thaghlmu il lingwa, jistghu jifhmu dak li nixtieq naqsam mal qarrejja ta dan il gurnal.
Grazzi hafna
You are right, but I wish to write in English so that foreign people living in Malta and have never learned the language would be able to understand the comments I share with the readers of this newspaper.
Thank you very much.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 8th 2009, 17:30
As far as I know, the editorship of this newspaper allows comments in Maltese. So, there's nothing stopping you to express yourself in the Maltese language.
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 8th 2009, 13:58
Malti is a unique language. It should be promoted, protected and tresaured. Yes, the English language is official in Malta and this newspaper is also Maltese, but written in English.
As a Maltese individual, I am able to speak and understand 4 languages, one of them is German, but my motherlanguage is still considered to be a kitchen language, as my mother barely speaks English.......!!!!
I am proud that I can speak 4 languages, not alot of people can.
I rest my case.
D Vella
Jan 8th 2009, 11:44
ironic that here we are,arguing about our native language in the most widely read newspaper in Malta ,which is written in English. Something not quite right?
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 8th 2009, 10:42
@ Jane Pace
Not at all, French and German are beautifull languages too but why do I meet continental Europeans that tell me that we speak English when when my mother barely speaks English, could you please explain..........., maybe my mother is not educated as the germans or the french are..............Maybe this argument has something to do with previous Occupation, which reminds me of something else..........................German occupation of France during WW2. Malti is my motherlanguage, the rest is history .................and history it should remain......... I am a proud Malti just like the French and Germans are. As you can see, I can communicate quite effectively using the English language too.
D.Vella
Jan 8th 2009, 09:27
Agree with you Ms Pace. Surely of all languages the French language has to be amongst the very top, spoken by over 200 million people across five continents.,It is melodious and romantic and opens the door to art,music,fashion,food,architecture and not least literature. It is the language of Culture and Diplomacy. French is the official working language of the UN,UNESCO,the International Olympic Committee. the European Uion,the International Red Cross and so on and on.
Pity it is not spoken and taught more on these Islands,but not at the expense of our own language of course.
D Vella
Jan 8th 2009, 09:00
Mr Farrugia,
There's a school not a million miles away from Sliema and another one on the other side of the Island,those are the one's I am aware of,doubtless there are other's. As you are aware it is difficult to prove because the school's will always say that the children are taught Maltese in class. What they don't say is that children are not allowed to speak their own language at any other time including playtime.I believe that Maltese is taught in these schools for two half periods per week if that ,and that because they must according to Ministry of Education rules.
The laws of libel in this matter are such that that 1. It would be difficult to prove for the reason given above and 2. I am far too poor to employ lawyers in my defence. However the truth is out there,all anyone has to do is look for it.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 8th 2009, 05:57
@ D Vella - I hate comments like these. As a teacher, a comment like Mr Vella's hurts me and disgusts me. Name and shame, Mr Vella. Give us the name of the school.
jane pace
Jan 8th 2009, 02:16
@jesmond micallef,..,.,are you refering to french and german as being unattractive languages?
Matthew Agius
Jan 8th 2009, 00:32
Very interesting issue brought up here. It is a shame that we have people who cannot speak Maltese properly because they have been taught Maltese as though it was any other foreign language. Who is going to respect our mother tongue if we don't respect it ourselves? As far as I know the official languages of Malta are Maltese and English; thus both should be used and promoted equally. We should have all indications and information in both languages and not just in English because conveniently enough it suits both Maltese and foreigners.
We should be proud of our language. Whenever I was abroad on conferences meeting people from different countries, they were always amazed that a country which has a population of a normal/small town in their country has a unique language of its own. They inquire in awe, and we're not proud of it! Shame!
I completely agree with Dr Bonnici's words: "Maltese is the epitome of inter-cultural dialogue in that it is structurally unique and rich, embracing two apparently distinct worlds: the Semitic and Latin worlds." The Latino-Semitic basis reflects our culture, geographical position, history and character.
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 7th 2009, 20:39
There is only one solution here.............................
EVERY MALTESE PERSON SHOULD SPEND AT LEAST 2 YEARS AWAY FROM MALTA AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES, WHAT A BEAUTIFULL LANGUAGE THEY HAVE.
Recommended destinations : France and Germany
D Vella
Jan 7th 2009, 19:23
When you have private schools in Malta not allowing children to speak Maltese under pain of expulsion ,what does that say to the child?. It is disgusting and the Educational Authorities should do something about it
Rio Sammut
Jan 7th 2009, 18:23
My compliments to Dr.Bonnici for hitting the nail on the head. It is no longer acceptable to give the Maltese language second place, or mix sentences in Maltese with foreign words for which we have equivalents. Shame on the media which allow Maltese poeple to express themselves in a mixup of Maltese and English words, very often coining ridiculous words like 'jibbendja' or 'tibbrestfidja'.
P.Zammit
Jan 7th 2009, 17:56
Wenzu Vella, born and bred Maltese but having lived 51 years in Australia. Well I would say more born Maltese and bred Australian.
As regards.."Where in the world you go were a foreign language take precedent over the local language in a public place,a govern.." Does Australia and English over Aboriginal language ring a bell to you ?
C Cassar
Jan 7th 2009, 13:55
Dr Bonnici: Thank you for the clarification.
wenzu vella
Jan 7th 2009, 13:41
I am Maltese born and bred and have been living in Australia for over 51 years I can proudly say that I can still speak, read and write Maltese well.
I watch the Maltese news on our TV station SBS and I laugh at some people being interviewed the way they pop in an English word here and there as if to say " I am educated"
Look at the new Mater Die hospital noticeboards thay are in a foreign language, English, is this to accomodate the few foreigners who live in Malta, or is it because the hospital board is ashamed of the Maltese language.
Where in the world you go were a foreign language take precedent over the local language in a public place,a government building, or like in this case a major hospital.
To see multi lingual noticeboards yes, but the local language is always at the top of the list.
To be multilingual is very good but not at the expence of your own, always be proud of your heritage, because speaking English does not make you English.
Dr Owen Bonnici
Jan 7th 2009, 12:12
@C Cassar. Thank you for your comment. You are right that Chapter 470 is entitled "Maltese Language Act" which effectively creates a National Council for Maltese Language.
However, I have a completely different legislative idea in mind. That is why I made no reference whatsoever to Chapter 470 although, had I included the word "proper" or the words "more effective" in the eight paragraph of the article after the words "we need a" would have made my argument better.
I did not refer to Chapter 470 purposely. My aim when I wrote the article was not to discredit the National Council for Maltese Language (which cannot be defined as being a "Regulatory Authority" like for instance the Welsh language Board of the Welsh Language Act of 1993) or get caught in a debate on the merit or demerit of the work of its members but to put forward a completely different way of thinking.
j n ebejer
Jan 7th 2009, 10:32
In a society which is triyng to attain equality for all it's members, Maltese language speakes are encountering situations were, because they do not know how to communicate in another language, are disadvanatged.
This is understandable were to happen abroad or were one needs to acceed to a specialised from of study, service or other form of interaction were Maltese cannot be used.
But our society should become more sensitive to this form of disadvantage and/or discrimination too.
Our politicians would win approval from a good part of us, were they to address this matter with all the due attention it merits. A discussion on the enactement of a Maltese Language Act is very much commendabile. Thank you.
C Cassar
Jan 7th 2009, 10:18
We do have a Maltese Language Act. See chapter 470 of the laws of Malta. Maybe rather than an authority to "scold" journalists for misusing the language, we need one to scold parliamentarians for not doing very basic research.
Gerard Cassar
Jan 7th 2009, 09:46
"...cultural dialogue in that it is structurally unique and rich, embracing two apparently distinct worlds: the Semitic and Latin worlds."
That is what Dr.O.Bonnici wrote an he is more than right.
Take English, it is a conglomeration of Normand that derives from Latin or rather from the French and Saxon, English original. Normand words are plentiful and have their counterpart in Saxon that makes them synonimes ; a couple of examples examples: commence is Normand,; begin or start is Saxon; to march is Normand to walk Saxon.to donate is Normand to give is Saxon;These are few examples. Those who study French notice these dual translations and helps them to learn
If the English language ( a Normand word) is rich so is Maltese since it owes it to two differnt languages. What is regretable is that there is a trend to use foreign expressions when there are pure Maltese words to express the same thing.
Mind you I am not an expert but I just observe.