Comments on: San Guzepp's Ferro Agosto in Brussels

By: Ray Borg

Ray Borg — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:42:02 +0000

Oh Daphne, dear Daphne

You missed on every important point here. The wise old man did not mention sex at all. He spoke about making love and that takes a lot of tender conversation. Sex, on the other hand, needs much less talk and hardly any tenderness

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:58:10 +0000

@Ray Borg: live in the land of parables, do you? I notice that your old man doesn’t include the Maltese language in the list of those worth speaking, and that your wise man inhabits a personal tower of Babel. And of course he would speak French when having sex – but then cliche is a French word, isn’t it?

By: Ray Borg

Ray Borg — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:03:36 +0000

@Daphne Caruana Galizia
Let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time a young man asked the village wise man:
“Master, which is the most beautiful language in the world”?
“There is no such thing”, replied the old man.
“But, when I talk to God, I speak in Spanish.
When I call my mother, I talk to her in Italian and I use French when I make love to my women”
The wise man continued: “English is the language I use with my beloved pets and when I meet a soldier I address him in German”

The old man’s parting advice was: “Young man, do not bother to converse with anyone who cannot speak at least two of these languages…..they are not worth your time”

Ferro Agosto! What a howler!
What’s next? Bronzo Settembre?

By: Mary Borg

Mary Borg — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:16:42 +0000

@ Daphne… I have been to Croatia and the surrounding regions more than once in the last six years and I assure they do speak fluent Italian. In fact Italian is one of the official languages of the country. Most of them watch the same TV programmes that are broadcasted in Malta as well.

I also forgot to include Albania. In fact, most Albanian immigrants living in Italy have been exposed to Italian culture since tender age.

@ Uncle Fester: Right we forgot to mention the Holy See too.

By: Charmaine

Charmaine — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:46:33 +0000

@ David Buttigieg

I wasn’t doubting what you said at all.

It’s evident that you haven’t yet noticed the amusing side of your sentence “I consider English to be my mother tounge”…

;)

By: Corinne Vella

Corinne Vella — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:17:46 +0000

Albert Farrugia: The English speaking world consists of all people who speak English. That includes everyone who can use English to a reasonable degree – even those in the countries you call “Europe” that are not “the UK and Ireland”. You make an unreasonable assumption about English speakers being insular. It is not the lack of knowledge of another language that cuts one off from a stream of ideas. It is a lack of interest in other points of view that is to blame. It is possible to be a fool in many tongues.

By: David Buttigieg

David Buttigieg — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:29:58 +0000

@Charmaine,

I stand by what I said and proud if it!!

It’s the same with most of my friends and so many people!

Cheerio!

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:01:19 +0000

@Mary Borg – when was the last time you visited Croatia, Serbia and the ‘African colonies’? No, you won’t be able to communicate in Italian.

As for the people who speak Italian in Switzerland – they are culturally and ethnically Italian. That’s why they speak Italian.

By: amrio

amrio — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:32:40 +0000

@Albert Farrugia

You said: ‘Since so very few maltese read italian or french or german or spanish. ‘

By that you mean reading the mentioned countries’ media and literature? If so, you are right, and I agree.

By: amrio

amrio — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:42:31 +0000

A well-known company has set up in Malta a call-centre catering for its English customers. Obviously, proficiency in English was a must when recruiting its staff, but can someone please explain why this company insists in having its staff speak solely in English, even while talking amongst each other?