More linguistic tbażwir
Luuuuuuuuurve the white pants, Jason
You know how the language messes of the ‘common man’ are forced on the rest of us as proper usage – like ‘pirmli’ for ‘pilloli’ and ‘blekbort’ for ‘blackboard’? Well, here’s another one: the confusion between making an apology and asking for one. Those at the vanguard of the fight for the Maltese language don’t seem to know the difference and – oh irony of ironies – must have this difference explained to them by the person they mock for her lack of knowledge of the language (little do they know what a lot of light there is beneath this bushel). The bright lights of the Maltese language have decided that when a person apologises, what he does is ‘jitlob apologija’. See the Charles Mangion speech report from L-orizzont, below.
Sorry, boys, but you’re right off target. Asking for an apology doesn’t mean that you’re apologising to others. It means that you’re asking others to apologise to you.
The concept of apologising does not exist in Maltese culture, and so the equivalent word does not exist in the Maltese language. Instead, we have the concept and the phrase for asking for forgiveness (nitlob li tahfirli/tahfruli). We have adopted a romance word to accommodate the concept of begging pardon (nitlob skuza), and the closest we can get to apologising is ‘niskuza ruhi’. Some people say ‘nappologizza’, but I think that’s horribly inelegant and clunky.
So I’m going to spell it out again to the reporters at L-orizzont:
JITLOB APOLOGIJA DOES NOT MEAN THAT HE APOLOGISED. IT MEANS THAT HE ASKED FOR AN APOLOGY (FROM SOMEBODY ELSE).
Have you got that on board? Right – now tell us more about Jason Micallef’s white pants.
Jitlob apoloġija għall-iżbalji li wettaq
Qabel temm id-diskors tiegħu, Charles Mangion qal li fuq nota personali, id-deċiżjoni li ma jikkontesta għat-tmexxija tal-Partit Laburista kienet waħda personali u qal li din id-deċiżjoni m’ghandhiex tinfthiem li mhux se jibqa’ jaħdem fil-Partit Laburista bħalma ilu jagħmel għal dawn l-aħħar 30 sena.
Huwa ammetta li saru żbalji, fosthom li l-messaġġ tal-Partit Laburista ma twassalx kif ried il-partit fl-aħħar elezzjoni u għal dawn huwa talab apoloġija. Però saħaq li l-Partit Laburista għamel ħafna ġid għall-poplu Malti u Għawdxi.
Huwa wiegħed li se jkun spalla ma’ spalla mat-tmexxija l-ġdida Laburista biex il-Partit Laburista jsir iktar rilevanti.
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While “nitlob apologija” is wrong for the reasons clearly explained in this article, one can say “nitlob skuza” or “naghmel apologija” which is idiomatically correct in Maltese. I do not agree with what is written in this article that “The concept of apologising does not exist in Maltese culture, and so the equivalent word does not exist in the Maltese language”. The concept definitely exists (we do not lack basic manners to such an extent) and can also be expressed by “jiddispjacini or jisghob bija” (the latter rather archaic). It is a non-sequitur to conclude that the concept does not exist because we do no have a word, or rather a semitic word, for “apology”. Do English speakers lack the concept of apology because they do not use a Germanic (or Teutonic)word for the concept but one of Greek origin (“apology” – apo + logos)?
Furthermore, “napologizza” (with one “p” and not two as written in the article) is grammatically correct and phonetic elegance is not necessarily an issue unless one is composing verse.
Please don’t lump all users of the Maltese language in the same basket. Some, but not all, of “those at the vanguard of the fight for the Maltese language don’t seem to know the difference” between making an apology and asking for one.
By the way, this culture does actually have a term, of strictly semitic origin, for apologising. It’s a single word, and says it all in a simple and elegant way: “aħfirli”, or various other possible combinations – nitolbok taħfirli, nitlobkom maħfra,… The problem with the incorrect usage of “apoloġija” is that it’s being wrongly used to mean “forgiveness”.
freethinker – Seeing that you’re so knowledgeable, please let us know what the correct Maltese equivalent for “You’re welcome” (in response to “Thank you”) is. Far too often we hear “tenk you lilek” (!) or “m’hemmx imniex”. Just asking …
@Tonio Privitelli – ‘ahfirli’ means ‘forgive me’ and not ‘I apologise’. The two have completely different meanings. The first means that you are asking somebody else to forgive you; the second means that you are expressing your regret, but not necessarily asking forgiveness.
@Amanda: thank you for describing me as “knowledgeable” – I do not claim to know more than the average Maltese should be presumed to know. The question you ask is not easy to answer. “Tenk you lilek” is obviously a hotch-potch concoction devised by the linguistically challenged. I think the closest we have is the second one you mention. This is not so very different from the Spanish “de nada” (for nothing) and I believe it should be acceptable. We have no similar phrase as the Italian “prego” (pray — i.e. I ask the interlocutor to actually ask me the favour or courtesy s/he thanks me for) which is the same as the French “je vous en prie” (I ask it of you) and not very dissimilar to the English “you’re welcome” (i.e. you’re welcome to the favour/courtesy you thank me for). I included translations not necessarily for your sake but for the sake of those who may not be familiar with these languages.
I was unaware that you defended the Maltese language so vividly when most of the people here are hell bent on eradicating it from society. Or to be more precise from the Sliema type pepe up market exclusive society
[Moderator – What interest could anyone have in the extinction of the Maltese language?]
View this:
http://www.engrish.com/
Daphne should try and write Maltese, or is she ashamed.
I was a colleague of a Saint Edwrds’ educated person. His writing in English was horrible. I will not mention his name but he is a quite popular person.
[Moderator – Would that person be Pippo Psaila, by any chance?]
Freethinker – “Tenk you” :)
Michael Debono – If you prefer to read in Maltese, then I suggest that you avoid this blog and stick to L-Orizzont, In-Nazzjon or similar instead.
I take it that you are also suggesting that The Times and The Malta Independent switch to Maltese, to satisfy the likes of people like yourself …
@Michael Debono – My Maltese is actually quite good. Those who understand and respect the principles of grammar and syntax in one language are able to respect the same principles in another language. Lots of people who speak Maltese as a first language know very little about grammar and syntax, and even less about language in general, which is why they make mistakes like ‘nitlob apologija’.
As Randy K. Milholland once said:
“Typos are very important to all written form. It gives the reader something to look for so they aren’t distracted by the total lack of content in your writing.”
:-)
Would the ‘intelligentia’ in these forum, please explain to me why ‘TEL-PEPE’ and “Maltesism” is a trade mark of Sliema?
ONLY intelligent responses please.
@ Daphne … You are right about the Times in checking any one who sends comments to any article.
Just as I posted the above here, I had a call from the Times to check about a response of mine to today’s EDITORIAL of the Times.
@ Moderator: If like the Times you feel that I should provide with my personal phone number I is fine with me. It is much better then you object to print my contributions.Or else if I am not welcome in here because of my personal views then please tell me so and I still thank you and wish you the best ever.
[Moderator – That will not be necessary. It’s more your equivocation that I object to than your political views.]
I am no expert in Maltese and I still make spelling mistakes, but regarding apologija and similar, would not the Maltese “Sobgha” and its derivatives by perusing the Maltese “etimologija” be adequate.
The expression is often used in prayers expressing regret.
Looking at the above photo, I have reached the conclusion that it’s not just Jase who needs a valet, but Wenzu Mintoff and Joe Mifsud as well. Check out their ensembles and see if you agree.
The Style Bible – Fashion Rule No. 1:
HORIZONTAL STRIPES ARE VERY UNFLATTERING ON AMPLE MIDRIFFS (and therefore must be avoided like the plague).