Translating the 'new reality'

The Maltese language is clearly gaining more standing in the European Union. Long regarded as a tongue spoken only in Malta, Maltese is now being used in all EU institutions and there are even foreigners within the EU trying to learn it.

For Joe Izzo Clarke, the Maltese language now means his livelihood. He has been a diplomat at the Foreign Office for a decade, serving in missions in London and Rome. But it was Malta's EU membership that really made a difference for him and his family.

"My experiences outside Malta led me and my family to look for a more permanent post abroad for a host of reasons: professional, cultural, social and economic. My experience in doing translations and my legal training (Mr Izzo Clarke initially worked as a legal procurator in the Attorney General's office), led me to look at translation as a possible career. Last July, I was successful in the EPSO (EU recruitment department) open competition and have been at the Court of Justice in Luxembourg since then.

"I like a challenge and I have given myself a very big challenge. My wife and children have settled down well and we are all enjoying it. Life is quiet but nice, the Maltese are slowly growing in numbers and I have ended up within the same institution as Maltese judge Anthony Borg Barthet after my years at the Attorney General's Office 10 years ago. It's also a pleasure to work with all the other Maltese personalities, Judge Ena Cremona and Josef Bonnici, the Maltese judge at the Court of Auditors."

Mr Izzo Clarke is the head of the Maltese language division at the Translation Department of the Court of Justice. The department is one of the largest in the world, with 20 linguistic divisions. Its operations are essential for the proper functioning of the court.

Mr Izzo Clarke said his department's major priorities are the recruitment of more Maltese linguists and ensuring quality translations in the Maltese language while respecting deadlines.

"Within EU institutions in general there are currently two main difficulties. The first one is recruitment. At the court we are proceeding according to plan. We had aimed to recruit 10 translators and three secretaries this year. We managed to do this, though not all have started working yet. We only recruit members of the legal professions as translators, unlike other institutions.

"The other issue is the quality of translations. Again, as in the other new EU member states, a translation 'mentality' cannot be instilled overnight. Training and practice as well as proper resource tools will help us achieve this aim. Rather than serious problems, therefore, I would say these are normal developmental ones. This happened in larger countries as well when they joined the first time."

Although prior to Malta's accession many were of the opinion that EU jobs available for Maltese were going to be filled instantly, this is not what is happening in reality. Mr Izzo Clarke, together with his boss, the Director General for Translations at the court, have just drawn up a recruitment plan for his division. "I am very happy with the staff at the division, both legal and secretarial, as well as those selected this year. I am sure the persons who will be recruited next year will be, with the right training and experience, of the same high standards. We have a number of potentially very good translators. Qualified human resources, after all, are the only resource we have in Malta."

Heading the new department is no easy task. Problems arise constantly and the division still has a large backlog of work to deal with. But Mr Izzo Clarke mentions a tougher problem - the Maltese mentality.

"Unfortunately, in Malta, our language often plays second fiddle to other languages. We seem to think that our language does not compare with other languages, possibly thinking that it's smarter to speak 'foreign'. I have seen foreigners appreciate our language more than some Maltese do. Indeed, Maltese is now being taught within EU institutions to foreigners.

"Joseph Eynaud is right in saying that this is a historic opportunity to give the Maltese language the recognition it deserves. But we have to believe in it for this to happen. To cap it all, few Maltese actually know about us and our work here and in Brussels. We are already working on the development of new terminology and the linguistic authorities will need to coordinate with us for the sake of uniformity. The setting up of the Council for the Maltese Language was a step in the right direction and I hope it will be able to coordinate language development in a more coherent and orderly manner than in previous years."

The controversy over the first draft Maltese translation of the European Constitution is still fresh in many people's minds. Mr Izzo Clarke feels everyone had the right to criticise but this right carried with it a duty to do so with respect and consideration.

"I accept every view, as long as it is made fairly and without ulterior motives. It is hypocritical to express disdain at linguistic mistakes when we all know that Maltese has been spoken and written incorrectly for years on end in all forms of communication, official or not."

Mr Izzo Clarke said this was a very exciting time for Maltese seeking new experiences abroad. In the case of translation work, there were opportunities for a number of Maltese nationals to work within EU institutions.

"We will be recruiting about 10 new jurist linguists within the Court of Justice in Luxembourg alone. There should also be new open competitions in 2006. There will be opportunities for the right candidates for a number of years. It all depends on whether we Maltese want to take up the challenge..."