That rather old language question

I refer to the letters on the language question by Frans Sammut and Josephine Grech (March 3 and 7 respectively).

In 1945 I was awarded a British Council Scholarship by virtue of which I, with two other students, attended a course of studies at Nottingham University, leading to a Diploma in English Studies and a Certificate of Proficiency in English.

One of the subjects in the latter was translation to English from a foreign language. A number of languages were prescribed, but the Maltese language was not included.

Because of this omission, we three students complained to the dean and pleaded that the Maltese language was discriminated against. Also, as other students could use their language as foreign we could not, but would have to use another foreign language. This was an uncalled-for decision.

Our complaint was passed on to the examination board who, seeing reason in our plea, accepted to introduce the Maltese language with others and, henceforth, future Maltese scholars would be on the same level as other foreign students.

However, as we had already sat for this subject, we asked that as a good gesture we would be additionally examined with the inclusion of the Maltese language, which we did and our certificate has the Maltese language included.

I remember that when Ġużè Cassar Pullicino came to know about this case, he praised our initiative and recommended that such initiatives be taken up by the government bodies.