I’m surprised that you’re not pouring copious text online ridiculing professional wordsmiths who can publish such literary gems as: “It is time to face the stark reality around us and to cease closing the Nelson’s eye on our own deficiencies”

Could it be out of deference to one of your regular blog contributors who also happens to be involved quite a bit in the Chamber?

Are you turning a Nelson’s eye yourself?

[Daphne – To what?]

http://www.chamberofadvocatesmalta.org/chamberofadvocates/news_detail.aspx?id=90126

[Daphne – Professional regulation is a good thing, not a bad one. Here’s the consultation document. You can download it, read it, and send in your views to the Chamber of Advocates.
http://www.snapadministration.com/snap28102005/files/chamberofadvocates/633560429372865000.pdf ]

(Daphne – Which consultation paper is this?)

“For generations, the French have fiercely guarded their language against the horreurs anglais.

But France’s education minister yesterday admitted for the first time that the secret to success is speaking better English.

Xavier Darcos claimed poor English is now a ‘handicap’ because all international business is conducted in the language, and said French schools would offer extra lessons during the holidays.

He also admitted that, because of globalisation, very few people outside France will being able to speak French in the future. “

“You misunderstood me. I like English but I do not find any reason to speak it in my homeland.”

That is fine BUT why should others be criticised if they choose to act differently? What you speak is quite frankly your business? BUT Malta should not be handicapped by the “Malti qabel kollox” attitude!

Also, the Italians do not speak Chinese in Italy, nor the French Portuguese in France (See my link above about the French by the way) BUT

1. They both desperately try to learn English

2. We are NOT talking about Portuguese or Chinese but English – you know, the most important language in the world

3. Their language is a language of millions and not the equivalent of a small town abroad, hence even though handicapped, they are less handicapped then a Maltese who doesn’t speak English!

No, I didn’t think you’d care what people in Switzerland do (as opposed to what the state does). That is part of the wider world which you seem so keen to ignore. I quoted the example of people in Switzerland to drive home the absurdity of the argument that we should only use Maltese (read: reject English) because we are Maltese and in Malta.

You claim you see no reason to speak English in Malta (I assume that’s what you meant by ‘homeland). No one has said that you should do so, though I imagine you recognise that if you were UNABLE to do so you’d not have become involved in this debate at all.

The difference between our respective lines of thought on the matter is this: you see language as a statement of one’s nationality, patriotism, historical political allegiance, etc. I see as a means of communicating what one thinks and understanding what others say.

Maltese has its place – we agree on that much. So does English, and that’s where we differ. There is no harm in using English as the language of instruction at university. There’s plenty of harm in making a point of excluding it because that runs counter to what a university is supposed to do – open one’s mind to a wider world.

You mentioned that there are many countries who first language is not English and yet lecture in English. So? Shall we do the same as the sheep of ‘Bendu’? I’m referring to Malta. We others do is their business. What do I care what Switzerland does?

@Daphne’s comment
On my birth certificate it is written ‘Meilak’. Meilak (with the k) used to be spelled Meilach (Italian ch), and as such it should be pronounced as ‘Mayluck’. The k is a sharp consonant and therefore it should stress the meaning of the surname: knife sharpener.

Please read this article – it should silence the anti English brigade once and for all!!