In response to the correspondence from Manwel Mifsud, Albert Borg, Ray Fabri and Olvin Vella (The Sunday Times of Malta, August 30) that old Maltese saying ‘Ħmar tniggżu joqmos’ (‘If you goad a donkey it will buck’) is appropriate.

Of all the salient aspects I raised in my criticism (August 23), not a single utterance appeared concerning the supremely important facets affecting the language.

Instead, these individuals came out blazing with a barrage of character assassination weaponry. Such phrases as “double-faced judgement”, “hypocritical”, “opportunistic motives” and “as a champion of Maltese”, do not address the deep concerns widely expressed in the Maltese media including my own. But they do send a message about their authors.

Olvin Vella – chronologically young enough to be my son – chose to muddle the waters by reintroducing past arguments about other matters completely unrelated to current council concerns. As for his sarcastic slight “champion of Maltese”, my lifelong gratis dedication – studies, publishing, conferencing, founding Maltese language schools, teaching, broadcasting and much more – are self-evident.

How relatively easy it is to become a hero in your own land where there is always someone to lend you a hand and a platform to prop you up! Quite a contrasting narrative when you are alone with your sole convictions, in an alien environment like mine!

Professors Borg, Mifsud and Fabri sealed their scathing letter with their professorial titles, emphasising their academic attainments, implying that no-one below their rank is capable of evaluating their failures and/or attainments pertaining to Maltese.

My former tutor in advanced Italian literature, the late Professor Frederick May, head of the Department of Italian at the University of Sydney – one of the top five Australian universities – had a mere Bachelor of Arts, without the Honours. Despite his mere undergraduate degree, I have never met a match to his broad and deep knowledge of Italian language and literature so lucidly expressed in his profuse output.

He never used his title to bully others into silence. His academic turnover was profound; his mien respectful and humble.

What I previously wrote, both in my submitted thesis as well as my published version, correctly quoted, stands. There is no contradiction in years later questioning the professors’ competence in Maltese. The two levels can co-exist within different aspects of the same subject-matter. Clinging to a thorough knowledge of one’s own theories while being deficient (seriously lacking in insight) in the actual behaviour and evolution of a living language are two such diverse aspects relating to the same subject.

In conclusion, professors, how about focusing on the dire problems of Maltese instead of collectively ganging up on me in your concerted effort to discredit and sideswipe a lifetime of thankless voluntary dedication?

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