Malta which language

The languages of Malta. Download PDF Viewer. Contributor s Paggio, Patrizia editor. Show full item record. Abstract The purpose of this volume is to present a snapshot of the state of the art of research on the languages of the Maltese islands, which include spoken Maltese, Maltese English and Maltese Sign Language. Malta is a tiny, but densely populated country, with over , inhabitants spread over only square kilometers. It is a bilingual country, with Maltese and English enjoying the status of official languages.

Maltese is a descendant of Arabic, but due to the history of the island, it has borrowed extensively from Sicilian, Italian and English. Furthermore, local dialects still coexist alongside the official standard language. The status of English as a second language dates back to British colonial rule, and just as in other former British colonies, a characteristic Maltese variety of English has developed.

This perhaps ensured its survival. With the arrival of the British in , English was introduced and quickly absorbed by the Maltese. Today, a considerable portion of the population prefer to speak English, or were raised as English-speaking primarily. Both English and Maltese are compulsory academic subjects in schools. Although the vast majority of the population speak English, most prefer to speak Maltese with fellow-countrymen. Even though English is an official language, the language of the people remains Maltese, which is very much part of the Maltese identity and important to most.

Take the hassle out of planning your trip to Malta and be an informed traveller! This influence has multiple facets — since ancient times, people crossed from Italy and Sicily to inhabit the island or to trade.

The Romans for example, spent a long while cultivating olive trees and vines. In , Italian was declared the official language by the Knights of St John , and remained so until Every year, a growing number of books are published by a handful of local authors and publishers. Quality has increased greatly in recent years with a number of Maltese publications winning prestigious international awards. A number of Maltese books have also been translated in foreign languages, such as Pierre J.

There are two major literature events in Malta. Both events are held over a span of days and include plenty of activities related to literature. The exact origins of the Maltese language are difficult to determine. Others argue that the closest form of Semitic language to Maltese is Tunisian. Another popular theory is that Maltese is a Siculo-Arabic an Arabic dialect of Sicily derivative that has continued to evolve undisturbed.

What one can easily determine is that the Maltese language today has a definite Semitic platform into which words from English, Italian and French have plugged themselves, making it a hybrid language written in Latin script.

In , a 15th century poem written in Maltese was discovered by two renowned Maltese researchers. The earliest Maltese dictionary was compiled by Agius de Soldanis in — however it was only published in Learning Maltese the proper way can only be achieved by staying in Malta for a while, attending a few courses and practising.

However, there are also some online resources for the traveller who just wants to learn a few quick words to impress while on holiday. Available online resources will only get you as far as learning some commonly used words and expressions such as basic numbers, greetings and simple questions. Here are some good online sources:. For foreigners living in Malta there are courses available every year. All of them start at the very basic, building up vocabulary as they go along and are intended for those who would like to learn how to communicate using the Maltese language in everyday life situations:.

Below is a list of phrases and their pronunciations in English that may be helpful when traveling to Malta and Gozo. Can you take me to the airport please? Where is the nearest bathroom? Feyn qeda ilkamra talbanyu. Where can I get something to eat? Books that help you learn Maltese exist, and here we have listed a selection of popular titles available from Amazon and other sites:.

For the tech savvy tourists, there are a couple of apps that can help you articulate yourself around the Maltese language. Check out these apps for Android and Apple phones and tablets:. Get the best travel tips from Malta Uncovered delivered to you in bite-sized chunks by email.

Unsubscribe at any time! As a result, there are a number of different linguistic and cultural influences at play within Malta, though the bottom line is that English is still very prevalent there because of the past British rule. Malta has some beautiful harbours and scenery, especially in Valetta the capital, and Marsaskala.

Valletta — Capital city of Malta, receives plenty of tourists especially from the UK. English spoken nearly everywhere, including hotels, restaurants and bars. Has lots of historical tourist attractions, all of which will be clearly sign-posted in English. Plenty of English language guides and tours available. Gozo — The northernmost island of Malta, again very popular with tourists so English is nearly universal.

Plenty of historical temples and other attractions, all of which will be clearly signed and led in English. All bars and restaurants around the harbour and elsewhere will have English menus, and staff will understand and speak English without any problems. Marsaskala — A lesser tourist region towards the bottom of the southern island. Still receives some visitors and expats though. English very widely spoken along the main strip and the harbour.

English widely spoken in supermarkets; some of them are even run by British expats. Be ready for some expensive prices though for takeaway and restaurant food.

One of the more expensive parts of Malta. Comino — A small middle island nestled between the north and south islands.