Drive to improve English speaking, writing in Malta

David Patrick

Apr 19th 2009, 16:12

I think it is more important to protect the culture rather than the langauge. How many regional languages were destroyed by the Roman Empire or printing press? The languge is a reflection of what makes Malta unique, the history, music, lifestyle and culture. Also with tourism and [url=http://travbla.com/Malta/en.html]English language schools in Malta[/url], English is more important economically.

Jon Vella

Feb 16th 2009, 16:23

All i can say is the only time i revert to speaking English if i had to or to show respect if an English speaking person is present otherwsie i stick to my own language which is first and foremost Maltese. I remember the days when i spoke English in Quebec in Canada i was completly ignored, same kind of reaction in Mid.Wales no one answers back in English, France and Italy and so on anso forth, so whats the point except for commerce or maybe watching a movie or reading a book, otherwise i'm not interested thankyou verymuch Miss.Wath ever/? J.Vella

L..Galea

Feb 16th 2009, 07:26

K.J.Zammit
Ghandek ragun ghax dawk kollha li jghawwgu halqom biex jitkellmu taparsi bl-Ingliz ghax jahsbu li huma aqwa u ahjar minn haddiehor ibatu minn kumpless ta' inferjorita'.

It is the English speaking persons who should learn Maltese to communicate withus in OUR country, not the other way round.

P Morris

Feb 15th 2009, 21:07

Does she run an English speaking school by any chance? ;-)

Miss.Jane Demanule

Feb 15th 2009, 19:19

Yes true when a Maltese person pronounce some sentences in English, they tend to speak it the way a Maltese is spoken with a sort of come Arabic/italian/English sound, unlike a person that speaks the Queens English ie., BBC news or someone from the north of England, or an Aussi or a Yank, especially the younger children. However i take my hat off to them because at least they are not afraid of making mistakes, and lets face facts we are not all perfect unless you happen to be God's gift to the Oxford dictionary or a Professor in English,myself i like to hear these different dialects, accents especially when the way an Italian pronunce his vocabilary in a sort of Romanic sound. The only people that get my goat or get up my nose is the way a Maltese annoucer read the news with a sort of strong emphasies on the last word or letter,i would prefer to hear a female Maltese news reader then a man, thats my opinion, so i really like to listen the news in a normal way and not too heavy on the last letter ie., MaltaaAAAAAaaaAAA Miss>Jane Demanule. NZ

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 15th 2009, 18:26

In principle I agree to this as English is a world language afterall, but plaese not at the expense of my own native language, MALTI., of which I am very proud of, considering such uniqueness world over. According to my experience abroad, most foreign people believe that in Malta, people speak English, I find this very irritating indeed, considering that my own mother barely speaks English !!!! When I tried to explain to people that the Maltese have their own language, the reactions I got was simply that Malti was not a language, but a dialect of Arabic !!!

Nations like France and Germany expect people to integrate into their INDEPENDENT homelands by learning French or German !!,..........of course not to mention British people expecting everybody to speak English wherever they go, without ever learning a foreign language themselves!!!

Even though I like and respect the English language, I am feeling increasingly concerned that MALTI will disappear !!!! And with that "Il - Maltin" too, which reminds of the ravages of the Conquistadores in the Latin Americas !!!

Eric Soames

Feb 15th 2009, 18:15

Why does this subject (perfectly valid in a world that uses English as an International language) always produce this 'little man syndrome' reaction?

Franco Farrugia

Feb 15th 2009, 17:58

I can hardly believe what I am reading from the few comments below.

Do you mean to tell me that you don't recognise the importance of the English language?

Do you mean to tell me that you don't recognise the urgent need for the Maltese to acquaint themselves better in the usage of the English language?

G,Hoare

Feb 15th 2009, 16:53

For all the comments in the page , i don't know why you making it so drastic about the English language , my language is Maltese and proud that i am MALTESE ,but i believe few English teaching personnel that teach english to foreigners are teaching english with the maltese accent way , when it comes to ( TH ) (GH) THE pronunciation is terrible the mistakes that are said at these schools so i understand Valerie Mitchell very well what she means maybe some people didn't . Well if someone is saying ( pronouncing ) a Maltese word wrong i am sure anybody will correct him / she ,WHAT IS SO WRONG TO LEARN SOMETHING PROPERLY not like they say in Maltese NOFS KEDDA

M.Falzon

Feb 15th 2009, 14:31

Well said Mr'.Bartolo and this alsao goes for K.J.Zammit. three cheers for our Maltese language first and foremost then the English language only as a Second and not to try and speak English with a sort of Maltese accent, we can spot it from Miles away, same as when a German speaks English or a Dutchman or a Japanese, but when we here a la di da wanabe Maltese speaking half English and half Maltese well to us ex-pats who been away from many years sounds funny & alient. I say stick to writing and speaking better Maltese grammer and proudly, wish i could, unfortunitly during my 50 years away from these beautiful islands have lost all that. English is for the English unless they want to speak ours.We downunder have to speak the aussi lingo cause we're a minority. Mary Falzon Australia

K.J.Zammit

Feb 15th 2009, 13:47

Nahseb ahjar jghallmu lill-Malti jitkellem u jikteb il-Malti sew!(inklus jien bla ebda dubju). Mhux tisma tfal zaghar hlief inglis ma jafux u jkunu maltin daqsi jew aktar minni.

F.Bartolo Senior

Feb 15th 2009, 13:41

What if we were to do the same, one of our scholars to visit Britian or any other English speaking country to improve our regonised Maltese language say in England,,Australia or Canada for the emigrants to kepp up with our traditions, do you think that would be a sin? i may ask why is so important for us to speak perfect English in our own country unless we are being taken over Again.....!once bitten twice shy as the saying goes!!!!!!!!Any baskfeed from our respected MALTESE citizens would be most welcomed. Mr.F.Bartolo SNR.