Good explanation Carpediem, it solved one of my life’s unexplained mysteries, or one of it’s myths to be precise.

Psycholinguistic blockage, rather than anything else.

Maltese derives from Maghrebi Arabic of the 10th century. Maltese may not understand Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) but Tunisian dialect is pretty similar to the language variety of Malta.

From a strictly linguistic standpoint, when there is intercomprehension between two varieties, we no longer refer to them as separate and distinct languages; they are dialects of the same.

As for MSA, the Maltese are not the only ones who do not understand it. Many native Arabic speakers do not understand MSA either unless they have been to school.

To illustrate: if a non-educated Moroccan met a non-educated Iraqi, they would speak their respective Arabic dialects and intercomprehension would be pretty restricted. Nationals of Arab countries communicate using MSA as their respective dialects do not allow full understanding.

Maltese is therefore an offshoot/dialect of Arabic. Actually, at the French INALCO (Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales), Maltese is part of the Department of Arabic Language and Dialects (s).

This piece is a modest and humble scientific contribution to set the record straight. No offence is meant.

[Daphne – Yes, you are right. It is perfectly possible for a Maltese person to follow a conversation taking place at the next table in Tunis. Even some of the verbal tics are the same (“Smajtni, smajtni? Isma isma!” used to punctuate a narrative told to a person who is quite obviously listening.)]

You cannot agree with me, because that is not what I said.

‘Accident’ means accident of history. If it weren’t for one bastard named D. Mintoff, and a bunch of misguided philo-Fascist agitators on the other side, history would have taken its natural course, and Malta would have become a British dependency. That would have spared us all the hang-ups about the language, the tiny dot, the geographical position, and the cultural identity.

The “important motion” presented by Malta was bollocks. Like most of the airy-fairy concepts which we seem to indulge in. It did nothing to change anything. But it was enough to turn some of our people into household names, and give us illusions of grandeur.

During the First World War, Malta did bugger all. Except for one man, Dwardu Ellul, who enlisted in the French Army. And a handful of officers serving with the British Army (which belies al the rubbish about konna mjassrin u ma stajniex navvanzaw).

As for the Libyan Civil War, spare me the tripe. Malta did nothing. It just stood on the sidelines and hoped that Gaddafi would pull through.

I bumped into John Galliano the other day. As you know, he was born in Gibraltar. He’s short and stumpy with a giant hook nose and Sephardic Jewish features. Probably even uglier than me. Hence his anti-Jewish rant. I felt like going up to him and giving him a hug. But because Gibraltar is a British dependency, to all the world he is British, with a British passport, a British accent and British everything. And he doesn’t go on about how Gibraltar is a tiny dot on the map but how it has given more than its fair share.

Independence was the worst disaster ever to befall Malta.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

― Eleanor Roosevelt, This is My Story

“understood by the Arabs while we do not understand them.”

Why is that?

How come native Arabic speakers can understand the Maltese language more than a native Maltese speaker can understand spoken Arabic?

[Daphne – They can’t. That’s just the usual received wisdom.]

A “Bedouin” language, understood by the Arabs while we do not understand them…” What a thing to say.

[Daphne – The word is ‘censored’. Censorship and editor’s decisions are two separate things. There are forums for people like you. Please go there.]

Whilst I agree with you that Malta is a tiny dot on the map – we as a nation have given much more than our share as a small island during the the first and second world wars and again during the Libyan civil war.

Regarding the sea being a common heritage, this was decided by the UNO when Malta presented two important motions which were adopted by the United Nations, one regarding the sea and the other the rights and respect of old aged persons – maybe someone out there might have detailed information on these two resolutions.

Overlords, not partners. This is real slavery, not EU membership.

However, I, for one, acknowledge once again our Chinese overlords and perhaps is there any service I might render?

He has to raise his voice hux… biex izommu reasonable partnership.