The Maltese ( it-malti ) is a Semitic Langue spoken with Malta. That means that it belongs to the same linguistic family as the Hebrew and the Arab . It is thought that its origin goes back to the Phénicie NS, but the language present of strong similarities with Arabic, heritage of a presence on the island during two centuries. However, the Maltese is written with a Latin alphabet enriched by diacritic (as the Point superscribed, mainly).

Like certain varieties of Dialectical Arabic (in particular syro-libano-Palestinian, Tunisian, the Morrocan, the Libyan and Algerian), the Maltese is thus an Arab language with Substrat S Phénicien and Berbère. The large majority of the vocabulary as well as grammar are of this fact very similar to those of the Arab dialects of North Africa, in particular the Tunisian .

However, unlike the latter, a Italic fort Superstrat (Sicilian and Italian) was added to the vocabulary, in particular for the newer words or on the contrary very current. For example, karozza (car), grazzi (thank you), urgenti (urgent), will kamra (room). Some loans also was made with the French (Bonaparte occupied the island during a few years), like bonġu (hello), bonswa (good evening), late (late) and with the English (like lipstik for “lipstick”, lipstick in English).

Linguistico-policy in Malta discusses

Of 1860 with 1940, a debate linguistico-policy made rage with Malta, where the people spoke the Maltese, but where the elite preferred to use the Italian . Before 1860,90% of the Malteses were illiterate, the question was thus posed only with the development of primary school education in the island.

Since the Malteses were (and are) roman catholics and that the Arab Langue was associated for much with the Islamic religion, but as with the slavery of the Christians at one time practiced by the barbaresque corsairs, a fate known by certain ancestors of the Malteses, the partisans of the adoption of the Maltese as national language asserted to him his origin phenician, more catholicly correct as the Arab .

The policy issue was not limited to the choice of a national language: the colonizer Britannique feared that in the event of Italianization the island ends up being asserted by the Italy, in the tread of the Risorgimento. The national Party of Fortunato Mizzi, in favor of Italian, was several times majority at the legislative council (in 1932 in particular), but the linguistic question was a “reserved matter” of the competence of the only colonial governor. Mizzi was supported by the fascistic mode of Mussolini, but after the sufferings endured by Malta during the Second world war the linguistic question was put the wall cupboard and to the Maltese definitively adopted like national language.

The Maltese, written in adapted Latin characters, is currently the official language in Malta.

At the end of the years 1990, one could however read in the Times off Malted a mail of reader who preached the abandonment of the Maltese to the profit of English, with for argument that “the Maltese, from his Arab origin, done us of Afro-Mediterranean whereas we want to become theMediterranean ones”.

Importance of the Maltese in Malta

The Maltese language became official language of the island in 1934, at the sides of the English. Since, English remained official language, but the Maltese in is more devoted national language by the constitution. Article 3 specifies that:
“the Maltese language is an essential component of the national heritage, having been constantly developed in the words of the Malteses, which distinguishes le  populate Maltese of all the other nations and gives to its citizens the best means of expression.
the Maltese State recognizes the Maltese language like a strong expression of the nationality of the Malteses and, consequently, recognizes its single importance and protects it from degradation and disappearance. ”

This is why the Maltese State created a National council of the Maltese language . It is in particular in charge of the promotion of the national language, of the definition of the orthography and the vocabulary and the implementation of a suitable linguistic policy.

The educational system in Malta is bilingual (Maltese and English), but the Maltese must remain the first language of teaching at the elementary school. In the secondary, all the pupils must learn a third language, and if the Italian is certainly the most popular choice, the French, the German and the Arab remain gravitational choices. Lastly, at the university, the professor is free to choose the language of teaching (Maltese or English).

Place du Maltese in the euro-Mediterranean culture

The Maltese is an original language, with the image of a particularly rich history which was subject to the influence of many civilizations (Phénicie nne, Greek, Carthaginian, Latin, Arab, Norman, sicilian, Italian, French and British). This heritage makes of it a linguistic treasure and an important symbol of the bonds multi-millenia which link the people of the the Mediterranean.

The teaching of the Maltese is set up as from 2005 at the National institute of the languages and civilizations Eastern of Paris.

Examples

See too

External bonds

  • Malta (text in particular presenting many information on the history of the Maltese language)
  • Maltese poetry and penmanship - Discover modern penmanship through poetic texts.
  • Freelang Dictionary - Dictionary Maltese-French/French-Maltese.
  • Maltese Grammar
  • Correct of orthography
  • Maltese Proverbs
  • Guide of survival English-Maltese

Simple: Maltese Zh-min-nan: malted-gí

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