Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo has apologised for a letter sent to his constituents last month – not because of its contents, but because of the atrocious spelling and grammar.
In the letter, where the MP listed his work during this legislature and encouraged his constituents to approach him wherever needed, The Sunday Times noted at least 50 basic mistakes, excluding the omission of Maltese fonts.
“There’s a mistake every five words,” Akkademja tal-Malti president Carmel Azzopardi said when shown the letter.
“No person should write this way. First of all, they’re embarrassing themselves, secondly it’s a scandal to others. Even if a specialist reads bad writing over and over again they’re bound to be influenced,” Mr Azzopardi said.
Kunsill tal-Malti president and head of the Maltese Department at university Manwel Mifsud said the letter had already been reported to him.
He had already sent Mr Vassallo a letter voicing his disapproval – both as a Maltese citizen and a promoter of the language.
“This is something we do whenever we receive reports about a similar publication. We like to convince people gently but firmly, as we’re sure that when they understand the importance of respecting one’s language they will make an extra effort to write well,” Prof. Mifsud said.
When contacted, Mr Vassallo said his attention had been drawn to the mistakes and he would do his best to correct it: “I’m sorry, that’s all there is to say. I will correct it, in all humility.”
Mr Vassallo’s letter is not an isolated case, as various official bodies including the police’s media relations unit send out press releases rife with orthographical errors. “Education is to blame,” complains Mr Azzopardi. “If a boy or a girl goes to school for 11 years, they should learn how to write in Maltese. My suspicion is that a lot of teachers are not 100 per cent there when it comes to rules of grammar and orthography.”
He said the media also made mistakes which could easily be avoided.
Prof. Mifsud, however, has a more positive view of the situation. Ever since he started evening classes in proofreading leading to a certificate at University six years ago, he has seen the standard of written Maltese improve.
So far, 181 students have completed the course and a further 70 are currently enrolled.
As part of the course, students are given actual published copy to correct, and Prof. Mifsud said he was finding it more difficult to find suitable copy with enough mistakes to correct.
He believes that by instilling a love and understanding of the language into his students, they in turn are having a positive influence on their friends.