On Saturday, May 18, I keenly followed the FA Trophy football match between Balzan and Valletta on TVM 2, which I really enjoyed. Much to my dismay, however, the commentator kept on referring to the Balzan supporters as Balzaniżi.

May I point out that this is incorrect. The demonyms for the people of Ħal Balzan are: Balzani (masculine singular), Balzanija (feminine singular), and Balzanin (plural).

Compare: Rabti, Mosti (masc. sing.), Rabtija, Mostija (fem. sing.), Rabtin, Mostin (plural), and many others. I would like to urge commentators and media people to consult the practical manual ‘Inħaddem il-Malti Tajjeb’ (BDL Publishing, 2018), by Karl Scicluna et al., pages 319–328, for practically all local and foreign demonyms. This will surely enhance the level of our native language as used in the media.

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