How many times have you been having a conversation in Maltese, scooped out your diary and quipped: “Niltaqgħu Tuesday”? Or start shopping around for “kartolini tal-Christmas” as soon as October rolls by?
Topping off sentences with the odd English word is due to the constant exposure to the English language, such as when jotting down an appointment in a diary or reading the warning label on cigarette packets, according to professor Ray Fabri.
This is one of the reasons why the Council for the Maltese Language is in discussion with different authorities in a bid to have Maltese included wherever possible. From road signage to interactive classroom calendars in Maltese, the council was “trying to expose people, including tourists, to the language that distinguishes us as Maltese,” he said.
Having to hunt high and low for Christmas cards in Maltese is the result of the small local market. However, there were other sectors – such as public administration – that should be able to issue correspondence in both languages, the council’s executive director Thomas Pace told this newspaper.
The council was in fact discussing the official way to issue communications in Maltese, noting that there was even a local tendency to launch events, or name agencies, in English. Whenever the council heard of a national infrastructural project, such as the building of the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Hospital, the Salini National Park and the Castille Square projects, it got in touch with the authorities to make sure signage was bilingual.
Meanwhile, tourists should also be given a taste of the language. Just as Malta promoted pastizzi and festi¸ it could also expose visitors to the language, such as by including the Maltese name of some dishes on menus.
The council was in discussion with the Malta Tourism Authority about the possibility of including the use of both languages in its quality standards for restaurants. This would not mean that the whole menu would have to be bilingual, but restaurants could include the name of some Maltese dishes, or put up signage in both languages.
The council is also discussing a prospective course for tour guides on the history of the Maltese language with the Institute for Tourism Studies, Mr Pace said. He added that the council was always looking for ways to increase electronic resources for children in Maltese, such as nursery rhymes, digital games and apps.
Cartoons, which could be uploaded on its youtube channel and accessed by Maltese children abroad as well as by second and third generation Maltese, are also in the pipeline. For more information visit www.youtube.com/user/kunsilltalmalti.