Tony C. Cutajar, San Ġwann
Falling standard of the Maltese language (1)
There’s been plenty of genuine criticism that the Maltese don’t speak their language properly. They use foreign words when there is the equivalent in the vernacular. The main culprits for this sad state of affairs are the media, especially the various TV stations. They are to blame for the bastardisation of our language. The people responsible for the respective stations should exact that the presenters always speak proper Maltese and tell their guests beforehand to do the same if it’s a Maltese programme. Newscasters are not to blame if what they have written in front of them is badly construed or not up to standard. In the old days these were seen beforehand by a man responsible to check the script. The recent unforgiveable howler which was repeated a number of times by the different newscasters was saqajn ix-xellugija (left feet) as if the writer never heard the singular word sieq.
And why are not the telephone numbers and street names in the commercials not always said in Maltese? Why, for example, use neighbours, bathroom, parents, thank you, Christmas presents when we have the common everyday words ġirien, kamra tal-banju, ġenituri, grazzi and rigali tal-Milied? The various TV drama programmes are being extremely lax here. The script writers should be made to pull up their socks. Is nobody responsible anymore?
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Rachelb Galea
Dec 15th 2010, 00:11
Dear Mr. Pule,
Although I was not aware that one could ready a number by counting its angles pray show us what the numbers 7 and 9 looked like. Unfortunately I cannot imagine either number have the said number of angles.
What this has to do with the failing standard of the Maltese language I fail to see! I think Salvu Sciberras hit the nail on the head. The sooner we get back to using and teaching our children the original Maltese words the better.
If we are missing a word in our language, which may always be the case, let us borrow from the Italian... which is the long run is the romantic side of our language....... and not use 'bastardised' English words.
Pule' Carmel
Dec 14th 2010, 20:43
note I may proceed with caution.
The symbol 4 contains four angles so its value is four, only if you assume that little horizontal protrusion to the east is missing. Some fool added this little short protrusion and spoilt the old symbol, which did not have it. All linguists who do not understand the brilliant coding of reality in mathematical symbols should never dream (jizzattu) suggesting to make them look rounder and prettier as some teacher do when they tell students, "Your handwriting should be more leggible!!" leggibility does not mean that when you see a symbol you remember another to which you compare it. There is more to it when writing mathemathical symbols, than language description or memorising text! .
l.theuma
Dec 14th 2010, 16:05
Sas-soru, fl-iskola tan-nuna, tibda tgħallem it-tfal in-numri bl-ingliż, one, two, three, meta lanqas bil-malti ma jkunu jafuhom u iktar u iktar ma jkunu jafu xi jsarfu.,
Pule' Carmel
Dec 14th 2010, 18:59
If numeral symbols are written as they should be written, the value of each number is contained in the number of angles carried in the particular symbol. Irrispective of the language used , so any child can COUNT the angles. Unfortunately all the angles in the number symbols have been rounded off and so the new modified rounded curvatious symbols have lost their intended original reason. When I tell people about the original angled numerical symbols, very few people know about the original designs where the contained angles describe the value of the number.
0 contains no angles and so its value is zero
1 contains one angle and so its value is one..
2 should contain two angles but this new symbol destroyed the information
3should contain three angles but angles have been destroyed, I am sorry I cannot proceed for the new symbols taught in our classes are now so stupid.Sorry Sorry, So Sorry to all linguists describing numerals.Some stupid people through history destroyed our intelligent logic in writing mumbers!and this means that our children have to remember the shape while before no one needed ot remember, all you needed is to count the andles in the symbol.
victor rodenas
Dec 14th 2010, 12:38
Not only that the Maltese cannot speak their language properly ,most cannot write proper Maltese.When they write a letter to another Maltese person,they use English,when they text they use English,even sending a Christmas Card they use English.......oooppppssssss I did that myself,..did you?Many have a problem in understandig the numbers in Maltese....Long time ago at School we had to pay a penny if we were caught talking in Maltese!..but that was many,many years ago.....insomma.
Salvu Sciberras
Dec 14th 2010, 14:50
How about using aċċident instead of inċident, "verament" when we have "tassew", "il-verita' " when we have "is-sewwa", "obesita' " when we have "ħafna ħxuna" or "ħxuna żejda", "ipparteċipaw" when we have "ħadu sehem", "esprima" when we have "wera", "protezzjoni" when we have "ħarsien", "assistenza" when we have "għajnuna", "vunerabbli" when we have "riskju", "employers" when we have "min iħaddem" and so many more that I could fill an encyclopaedia.
Michael Cassar
Dec 14th 2010, 15:33
Qatt ma rajt arlogg ta' l-idejn "b'disa' cniegi".
W Spencer
Dec 14th 2010, 11:12
Many Cities in the UK have similar problems, in numerous London Boroughs alone it seems that 40% of pupils have have English, as a SECOND language !
Charles Vassallo
Dec 14th 2010, 14:30
W Spencer that's because they are the children of immigrants.
W Spencer
Dec 14th 2010, 20:11
@ Charles Vassallo
The point was, if English was the FIRST language, and Maltese was only the SECOND language taught and used in Maltese schools and homes, how would the Maltese people feel ?