Our Maltese language

I am afraid our Maltese language is degenerating rapidly. I think the media is largely to blame because the Maltese language is not given the importance it deserves. Work and hobbies keep me very busy throughout the day but I always watch some television programmes in the afternoon and the 8 p.m. news on TVM. It is a rarity for someone to complete a sentence in Maltese without uttering a word in English.

While describing clothes it is common to hear a sentence like "dan it-top jigi f'colours white, black jew pink" (this top is available in white, black or pink) instead of "dan il-flokk jista' jkun abjad, iswed jew roza" and "dan it-top imur hafna ma' trousers suwed jew brown" (this top matches well with black or brown trousers) instead of "dan il-flokk imur hafna ma' qalziet iswed jew kannella".

Children are no longer given gugarelli but toys. Most people speaking in Maltese no longer use the words "grazzi" (thank you), "l-ghodwa t-tajba" (good morning), "sahha" (bye).

Anyone who is on television should feel responsible and speak proper Maltese. I have no objection to anyone speaking in English but please do not destroy our language. Do these people know they are being heard by many others, including children, and they may be badly influencing the way we speak?

And what about numbers? I imagine that a foreigner who happens to be watching TVM would think we do not have numbers in Maltese. I very rarely happen to hear someone giving a telephone number in Maltese; at least repeat it in both languages.

Many Maltese words are being lost but their regular use on the media would help to restore their daily use. Some examples are mitjar (airport) and fatra (breakfast).

May I suggest presenters to: Keep a good English-Maltese dictionary in the TV studio and remind anyone who is going to speak on television to speak Maltese or English but not a mixture of both.

The Akkademja tal-Malti should see that presenters are qualified to speak Maltese and, if not, to sit for an oral examination in Maltese. I would like to praise presenter Ray Calleja who, in my opinion, speaks good Maltese and tries his best to encourage guests in his programme to do likewise.

Radio stations are not better off. Maltenglish is the most common language used and sometimes I am disgusted and switch channel.

Some may say I am an extremist and I should not give so much importance to our language; what is most important, after all, is that we communicate well. However, with this reasoning, I am sure we will lose our language which is an essential part of our culture and identity. Besides, we are not speaking in English well and we tend to wrongly translate Maltese sentences into English.

I cannot comment on newspapers written in the Maltese language as I do not purchase politically-biased material. I would like to be able to buy a newspaper in Maltese which is interesting and balanced, as I think The Times is.

Schools have a vital role in this issue. Teachers should strictly speak Maltese during lessons such as Maltese, Maltese history, drama and physical education. Of course, sometimes this is not possible due to the presence of foreigners but in such cases an exception to the rule is permitted. Teachers who teach Maltese, especially in private schools, are having a tough job. Some students rebel when asked to speak Maltese and they speak only English at home.

Let us all work to save our language, which is part of our cultural heritage.

Dr Farrugia Randon is a member of the council of Din l-Art Helwa and a member of the Akkademja tal-Malti.

Stanley Farrugia Randon