John Bates in The Correct Language To Be Polite (February 18) suggests that foreigners should learn at least a few words of Maltese, even though English is supposedly an official language here.

Fair enough. But in nearly 40 years I have never heard a Maltese use the word “please” in a shop, bar or restaurant – in any language.

On the other hand, there cannot be anybody on these islands (surely?) who does not understand the meaning of “good morning”, so Tim Waters’ complaint (February 9) about getting no response to it was surely justifiable.

However, if a Maltese needs to turn away to address another person, he’ll invariably say: “Forgive my back” while doing so, which is astonishingly polite – and an expression that would be unrecognised in England or elsewhere.