Why is it that we say linji tal-ajru and not linji tal-arja? Therefore ajruplan makes much more sense … arjuplan seems like the maltese version of aeroplano….

I think you are discounting the influence of the Italian “aeroplano” here.

Fidili is the Maltese word for faithful. It was initially applied to idiots only in a metaphorical sense (tista’ tafdah għax ċuċ), but has now practically become the literal sense too.

There is “overtaking” a car when you pass it by. “Speeding” is simply going “over the limit,” there is no such thing as “overspeeding” in my experience of the English language in America.

It depends what the majority would then decide to use and how much society tolerates. Today we have the Kunsill tal-Malti which, differently from some other countries, is a government institution.

This purports to establish statutorily (without coercive power) what is and what is not acceptable. I fear though, that rampant mistakes by the media, are a stronger influence.

One irritating phenomenon which is widespread on practically all radio and TV stations is the ending of adverbs of romance origin e.g. prezentament instead of the correct “prezentement”.

The ending varies according to the ending of the adjective e.g. kollettivament is correct. Unfortunately, ignorance of Italian is contributing to the massacre of Maltese.

Then there is usage of such inanities as “reat kriminali” (literally, a “criminal criminal offence”) that I’ve heard used even by lawyers and by public figures who should know better.

Another mistake which interferes with my blood-pressure is the use of the masculine plural ending with feminine nouns e.g. klassifici instead of klassifiki, klinici insteak of kliniki. I almost suffered a heart attack recently when I heard repubblici. Again, ignorance of Italian.

I am not a teacher but in my time schools were extremely strict and errors were not tolerated. With the level of English possessed by some students today, one would never have passed even “O” level standard in my time.

Anyway, you started this discussion with rikotta but you initiated a healthy discussion and for that you deserve commendation.

[Daphne – Been there, explained that. Arjuplan is in fact the correct version: from aeroplane, which is what we used to call them before they became planes. However, he is in the minority. The rest of us have been overtaken already by the erroneous ajruplan, which takes as its inspiration the Maltese word ajru – which is not the same as the air in airplane, as that would be arja, with the R sound first, like arju.]

Meta kont zghira jien kont nghid “bata taht il-haqq ta’ Fonzu Pilatu” ghax tal-hobz kien jismu Fonzu. Imma eventwalment tghallimt.