Revive Malti: Stop Treating Our Mother Tongue as Second-Class
Malta’s Mother Tongue Under Siege: A Call to Reclaim Our Identity
Imagine walking down Republic Street, the heart of Valletta, and hearing more English than Malti. It’s a scene that’s become all too familiar in our capital city. But why is it that our national language, the one we’re born into, often takes a backseat to English? It’s time we stop treating Maltese as a second-class language.
From Official Status to Everyday Use
Malti was declared an official language of Malta in 1934, and it’s enshrined in our Constitution. Yet, in everyday life, it often plays second fiddle to English. In shops, offices, and even among friends, English is the lingua franca. Why is this so, and what can we do to change it?
Part of the issue lies in our education system. While Maltese is compulsory until the end of secondary school, the language of instruction is predominantly English. This leads to a situation where many Maltese speakers struggle to express themselves in their mother tongue, let alone read or write it.
Revitalizing Malti: A Collective Effort
But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are initiatives afoot to revitalize Malti. The National Literacy Agency, for instance, is working to improve Maltese language skills. And let’s not forget the annual Malti Diġàħ Festival, which celebrates our language and encourages its use.
At a grassroots level, we can all play a part. Start by using Malti more in your daily life. Whether it’s ordering a pastizzi in Malti or asking your colleagues to switch to Malti for a meeting, every little bit helps. Let’s make Malti the language of choice, not just a subject in school.
Preserving Our Identity: A Call to Action
Malta is a bilingual country, and that’s something to be proud of. But let’s not forget that Malti is our mother tongue, our identity. It’s the language of our grandparents, our folklore, our culture. It’s the language that unites us as a people.
So, let’s stop treating Malti as a second-class language. Let’s use it, celebrate it, and pass it on to future generations. Because Malta is Malti, and Malti is Malta. Let’s keep it alive and thriving.
As the late poet and linguist Oliver Friggieri once said, “Malti is not just a language, it’s our soul.” Let’s nurture that soul and keep it strong.
