New Institute to promote Maltese culture, language abroad
The government is considering the setting up of a Maltese Cultural Institute to promote the Maltese language and culture abroad and to help Maltese emigrants in this area, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg announced this morning.
He was speaking at the Convention of the Maltese Living Abroad, which opened at The Exchange Building, in Valletta.
"There is no doubt that Malta must promote everything that is Maltese - the teaching of the Maltese language, folklore, traditions, our way of life, our cultural heritage....Despite our limitations, we need to do what other countries have done and set up a Cultural Institute whose primary purpose will be to promote the Maltese language, culture and traditions abroad," Dr Borg said to applause.
He said the ministries responsible for culture, tourism, education and foreign affairs would have to work together within this institute so that human and financial resources could be channelled in the most appropriate way.
The new institute would also be able to use Malta's 25 embassies to achieve its aim.
In his address Dr Borg recalled three laws passed through Parliament which had introduced and gradually extended the right to dual citizenship, which is now available to all those who can prove Maltese ancestry.
This, he said, had strengthened the concept of Greater Malta.
Fears that this legislation could lead to an invasion had proved to be unfounded because for many, the acquisition of Maltese citizenship along with the citizenship of their adopted country, was an emotional one, an affirmation of their Maltese roots and an expression of love for the land of their birth, or that of their ancestors.
Nonetheless, use of dual citizenship had many benefits, not least the benefits accorded to all citizens of the Euopean Union, including freedom of movement, work and residence within the EU.
Dr Borg said that since 1989, a total of 16,000 persons of Maltese descent had opted for dual citizenship.
Dr Borg praised the Maltese communities abroad for keeping alive Malta's language traditions and culture, and, borrowing a verse from British poet Rupert Brooke said theirs was "a corner of a foreign field which is for ever Malta".
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat, who spoke later, said he hoped that the initiative announced by Dr Borg would be given the resources it needed to be successul.
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Jason Cauchi
Mar 15th 2010, 00:56
Greater Malta ..... I live in Canada, when do we get to vote!!! And get a free trip to Malta like the rest of the European brothers and sisters.
Steve Borg
Mar 14th 2010, 23:26
Bejn il-kliem u l-fatti hemm baħar jikkumbatti. Kliem, kliem, kliem.
Dan il-kliem fieragħ kollu dwar kemm se jippromovu l-ilsien Malti barra minn xtutna meta l-avviżi fuq l-intranet tal-Gvern ta' Malta stess huma miktuba bl-Ingliż, kwestjonarji minn Kastilja huma bl-Ingliż ukoll u l-Kavallier ta' San Ġakbu - ix-xempju nazzjonali ta' kultura kif proposta mill-Gvern Malti tippromovi l-attivitajiet tagħha bl-Ingliż. Ara waħda s-sit elettroniku:
http://www.sjcav.org/
Li nammira huwa s-sens ta' ħila kif ma tistħux toħorġu dawn l-istqarrijiet meta nafu li jekk tagħsar il-kliem ma toħroġx qatra waħda biex tisqi tengħuda.
Franco Farrugia
Mar 14th 2010, 23:21
@ Messers Masini and Micallef: I disagree with you, even though I agree with the fact that Germany would not be the kind of place where Maltese would congregate within ghettos. However, once you have left you country of origin, I personally do not believe there is any added value in continuing to learn the Maltese language, especially in the case of generations who were never in Malta.
Jesmond Micallef
Mar 15th 2010, 09:20
Franco, You are right in what you say about Germany. It is not a traditionally "favourite" nation for the Maltese. I still think and feel that if people choose the option of Dual Citizenship, then yes every effort should sought in making that Dual Citizenship worthwhile having in the first place !!! Any citizenship, worldwide, relates pretty much to the native mother language, at the very least, and people should remain faithfull to this !!!
Furthermore, the Maltese language is unique and tend to think about it as both a national but also a world treasure. How many rare collectable Maltese antiquities are there in rich private hands, worldwide ?
a.dalli
Mar 14th 2010, 15:29
Given the present law, are these 16,000 eligible to vote?
t.dalli
Mar 14th 2010, 15:03
Albeit not official the Maltese Cultural Core Group - Libya was established some years back with this vision in mind. Monthly activites are held.
grech, ray
Mar 14th 2010, 14:51
Charity begins at home - at the University of Malta especially!
Zammit S
Mar 14th 2010, 14:34
mhux ahjar nibdew nipprattikaw dawn l-affarijiet hawn l-ewwel qabel ma noqoghdu nippuppaw bix-xinxilli? Dawn huma kollha affarijet sbieh imma qabel xejn l-ewwel irridu nibdew napprezzaw il-Kultura Maltija u dak kollu li hu Malti hawnhekk! F'dawn l-istess zminijiet l-Universita qieghda taghti bis-sieq lill-ilsien Malti u ccahdu lil min irid juzah. Dik kultura Sur Ministru!
J Spiteri
Mar 14th 2010, 14:30
@ m portelli
I agree 100% They want to promote everything that is Maltese, including the Maltese language, abroad - while at the same time they are kicking it off and killing it slowly here, starting at our University! Why didn't he mention that the University of Malta is prohibiting the use of the Maltese Language in a course which is itself dealing with Maltese Culture and Maltese Studies (M.A. Maltese Studies)? Is this how we promote the Maltese Language, by prohibiting students to use Maltese? Words, words, just words....
Jesmond Micallef
Mar 14th 2010, 14:08
I completely agree with this promotion. Having a dual citizenship is all about that. People can allways opt to disregard their roots anytime they want and wish. Malta has its own language culture and identity just as much as any other nation. It actually brings people together really and up to a certain point, that is what Malta is all about. I have aired my opinions here in the past in a very frank manner about the Maltese language. Apart from the normal understandable emotional connection to the language, this new promotion here should further strengthen the Maltese identity worldwide.
I consider the traditional immigrant countries like the USA, Canada and Australia, here. I think they are themselves evidence of succesful integration of the various communities which built and developed these countries in the first place !!!
Yes, I wish this new institution full success.
Wenzu Vella
Mar 14th 2010, 13:48
Maltese calture and language abroad, Minister you should start in Malta first, by having all advertising, billboards and notices in the Maltese language, especially in government buildings and the new hospital.
Dear Franco Farrugia most of the times I agree with your comments but for you to say "A banal decision which will only encourage Maltese emigrants to form themselves into ghettoes" is showing that you are very ill informed about us emigrants who live in Australia.
We have not only made a name for ourselves but for our country of birth too, because you will find us in every aspect of society.
So please don't make statements like this in the future because you will only be hurting our feelings.
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Mar 14th 2010, 12:38
Hawwadni ha nifhmek. Ghidilhom jibdew f'Malta l-ewwel
m.farrugia
Mar 14th 2010, 12:27
L-ewwel ma ghandna nieħdu hsieb il-Malti fl-UNiversita ta Malta mhux qed inwarbuh bhal ma sar dan l-ahhar. Hadd ma jista jikteb bil-Malti l-assignments tieghu. Il-promoturi imisshom jitolbu skuza lil Poplu Malti għal dan
M Cassar
Mar 14th 2010, 12:12
It would be better if we start with the digital world, you won't find a decent free translator on the internet even though one can easily see many foreigners interested and in our language when they see us writing it on sites like youtube. A good website with maltese lessons and maltese culture and food would also be great, remember that nowadays many people decide on their holidays online.
m.portelli
Mar 14th 2010, 12:10
"There is no doubt that Malta must promote everything that is Maltese - the teaching of the Maltese language, folklore, traditions, our way of life, our cultural heritage...
LOL !! The hypocrisy never ends!!! Except ensure that the language dies a slow death at home cudgeled by the University the organisation that is meant to safeguard it! How apt the quote from British poet Rupert Brooke "a corner of a foreign field which is for ever Malta". Please note that Brooke was referring to the dead and buried!
laurence schembri
Mar 14th 2010, 11:59
Promoting Maltese Language abroad, surely this must be a joke. Our language have been condensed to words repeatedly heard even on broadcasting TV and Radio, even by promoters of the maltese tongue; i.e. nikkompara (inqabbel) forgotten, mela mela mela, ifhimni, mhux hekk, ovja, ovjament (Italian, always put in the wrong context) hekk hu, will do instead, at times I wonder as to how Maltese is being taught at schools.
T Camilleri
Mar 14th 2010, 14:16
The sort of language that you mention being used on all the media makes me want to throw up. How about the Broadcasting Authority fining every person using foreign words when there is a perfectly fitting Maltese word and also fining the stations so that they will strictly control their tongue-twisting employees? As an example, this week on super 1 radio, where the newscaster repeated throughout the day the word "tornado" when we have the Maltese word "tromba" or "tromba tal-arja".
Another point that I would like to make is that I made it a point of not buying anything from an advertiser when the advert is not in the Maltese language. We are in Malta so make your advertising in MALTESE.
To give an example, there is a well-known pizza advert where the lady sounds as if she's got her tongue entangled with the way she twists it to sound English. Shameful and disgusting. You shall NEVER see me in your establishment even if its the ast one in the world making pizza.
Franco Farrugia
Mar 14th 2010, 11:46
A banal decision which will only be encouraging Maltese emigrants to form themselves into ghettoes. These Maltese emigrants should join the community of the country where they are now living and stop thinking that they have particular roots to their mother-country. The Government would do well to dedicate its linguistic energies within its own country and tell its officials to speak Maltese when they have the means to do it! That is the best way how to promote and defend the Maltese language abroad! 'Greater Malta', indeed! This is all banal!
Joseph Masini
Mar 14th 2010, 13:41
Really I don't agree a bit with you... so you're saying that our migrants should renounce their traditions- the traditions they were born in, raised in, and lived in for quite a long time.. remember Mr. Farrugia, that these traditions also carry along with them memories that form an integral part of the Maltese history. Look at the Italians who migrated to the US late in the 1960's... have they renounced their "roots to their mother country", as you put it? I really don't think so.
And I'm sorry to say that your speaking of "ghettos" is totally incorrect. The Maltese abroad have succeeded in integrating with their respective communities, and some of them even proved to be more successful than the local citizens! We should be really proud of their success, and not renounce them like you're saying!
Jesmond Micallef
Mar 14th 2010, 14:25
Franco,
I have been living in Germany for a while now and I don't live in a ghetto. !!! I am Maltese and proud of it just as any non Maltese is proud he or she is not Maltese, should it come to that !! Nobody can ever negate my roots. Malta has its own language and it should be promoted and protected as much as is possible. Other countries have their own native languages too and they too should be promoted and protected. Diversity has its undeniable strengths, make it culture, language or even SIZE !!
I can speak Maltese, English, German and Italian. We Maltese do not live in ghettoes, Franco. We are pretty much people of the world really.