Blasphemies were recorded at the Inquisitor’s Palace, in Vittoriosa. Photo: Aaron Briffa/viewingmalta.com

If we time-travelled to medieval Malta, we would all be shocked at the offensive blasphemy uttered as people went about their daily life.

According to a leading linguist, today’s blasphemies “pale” next to what was uttered in the 18th century.

Over the centuries, the Maltese earned fame for their colourful language. “It is said that the British referred to us as ‘Ulla men’,” linguist Olvin Vella, who lectures Maltese at the University of Malta, said.

The title was probably the result of the Maltese penchant to mention God – Alla – almost as often as our punctuation.

However, even before Malta became a British colony, blasphemy was rife. In fact, at the time of the Knights of St John, blasphemies were recorded at the Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa.

“And it is very clear that the manner in which people blasphemed 200 and 300 years ago was more colourful and more shocking than ever,” Mr Vella said.

In the 17th and 18th century, people used to report their neighbours to the Inquisitor of any behaviour they deemed went against the Catholic religion. Blasphemy was among them. Witnesses would describe in detail any blasphemy they would have heard, which was scribbled down.

“The inquisition tribunal throws light on the live language, the language of the street. The documents are records of the spoken language and not the proper language of books,” he said.

Mr Vella said there were words in Maltese that old dictionaries never listed but we only know of their existence thanks to these records, such as xawwata, that is ftira (flat bread).

It also shows how grammar changed over the centuries. “We have several instances where the noun in the sentence is in the plural but the verb is still in the singular such as ix-xjaten titqarben (the devils receive Holy Communion),” he said.

“It looks like back then blasphemies were not a mere short utterance but rather complex short stories. Even reading them today can make you wince, as they were really harsh,” he noted.

Even reading them today can make you wince, as they were really harsh

Religion was a key feature in society at the time, which probably explains the severity of the blasphemies. “You swear or blaspheme against your most treasured thing,” Mr Vella said.

The documents show how today’s expletive ħaqq (damn) stems from jaħraq (to burn) and ħaraq. In 1797, there are records of a priest uttering: “laħrac ruħ il Caddis ta’ Liscof li ordnani” (may the soul of the saint of the bishop who ordained me burn in hell).

Blasphemies commonly featured the devil, the Catholic faith – including the Pope, saints, the Virgin Mary and God - as well as parents and relatives.

“In my research interviews with elderly people, some do remember these expletives but they all shied away from repeating them as they are considered terribly offensive.”

There are examples of how people used to resort to euphemisms over the years instead of the actual word to avoid the tribunal. Sagrament (sacrament) became legremew; osjta (host) became ostra; qaddis (saint) became qattus; imniefaħ instead of imniegħel.

“This still happens today: quite a good number of people say “illallu ballu”, which is clear euphemism for Alla,” he said.

Mr Vella said that, over the centuries, the Maltese language lost seven sounds, among them one similar to the English th. Another one is the heavy guttural sound at the beginning of a word.

“For instance, the surname Gauci comes from Għawdxi (Gozitan), which clearly shows how the għ used to sound very different,” he pointed out.

Despite clear instructions from Rome to punish blasphemers severely, profanity proved difficult to control in Malta.

This served a purpose because, apart from linguistic revelations, medieval blasphemies throw light on other aspects of society 300 years old, such as the interior of houses.

“Someone who would have overheard a neighbour blaspheme would have to justify how they heard it, so they explain how the layout of the houses,” he said.

Mr Vella urged people to keep Maltese alive by making sure they speak to their children in the language. “It will die if we do not transmit it to the future generations.”

Of course, he was not referring to swearing.

Swearing today

Article 342 of the Criminal Code states that if obscene words uttered in public involve blasphemous words or expressions, the offender may be jailed for up to three months, although a fine of not less than €11.65 may be levied instead.

According to police statistics, in 2010, 543 fines were issued for blasphemy. Last year, fines for blasphemy numbered 269 between January and August.

Fined for swearing
January to December, 2010: 534
January to July, 2011: 247
January to September, 2012: 294
January to October, 2013: 374
January to August, 2014: 269