According to Joe Borg (Translation Techniques, January 12, 2008) "there are well settled words universally used by many nations including the insular French who have the sense not to interfere with technical terms where change is not called for and where such words are immediately understood". (He mentions terms like "conductivity or crankshaft or heat exchanger".)

Oh, really? I am not an expert on the "insular French", but if he were right, why would we be using "Leitfähigkeit" (conductivity), "Kurbelwelle" (crankshaft) and "Wärmeaustauscher" (heat exchanger) in my native German? Or perhaps Mr Borg might prefer the Greek terms "agogimótita" (conductivity), "strofalofóros áxonas" (crankshaft), and "enalláktis thermótitas" (heat exchanger)... not to forget "ypologistís" (computer), "pondíki" (mouse), "pondikodrómio" (mouse­pad) and "diadíktyo" (internet).

Some correspondents seem to wish to return to the Middle Ages, the last period during which at least in Europe a universally accepted language of science existed. (Anyway, what I personally like about Medieval Latin is that at least it was nobody's mother tongue and thus not working in favour of a few dominant countries like English is today.)

As for the reason why the same people seem to be ashamed of their native Maltese, it clearly has to do with their Arab "cousins" (the term is not mine, so please don't beat me!)...

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