Maltenglish

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Manglish.
Maltenglish
Manglish, Minglish, Maltese English, Pepè
RegionMalta
Language codes
ISO 639-3–

Maltenglish, also known as Manglish, Minglish, Maltese English, Pepè or Maltingliż refers to the phenomenon of code-switching between Maltese, a Semitic language derived from late medieval Sicilian Arabic with Romance superstrata, and English, an Indo-European Germanic language with Romance superstrata.

Both Maltese and English are official languages in Malta, and about 88% of the Maltese people can speak English as a second language. Various Maltese social groups switch back and forth between the two languages, or macaronically mix lexical aspects of Maltese and English while engaging in informal conversation or writing.[1]

The term Maltenglish is first recorded in 2007. Other colloquial

portmanteau words include (chronologically): Minglish (2006), Malglish (2016), and Manglish (2016).[2]

Maltenglish can also refer to English loanwords in the Maltese language.[3]

Prevalence

Recent studies have shown that code-switching is practiced by a third of the population in everyday discourse.[4]

The most common areas where code-switching occurs are in part of the

St. Julian's, Pembroke, Swieqi, Madliena, San Ġwann and Kappara. These areas are sometimes stereotyped as tal-pepé.[5]

Examples

English Maltese Maltenglish
Mixed case Give mummy a kiss. Tiha bewsa 'l ommok. Tiha kiss 'ill-mummy.
In a Maltese sentence The actor of that film took the limo to meet the director. L-attur ta' dak il-film mar jiltaqa' mad-direttur bil-limużin. L-actor ta' dak il-film mar jiltaqa' mad-director bil-limo.
In an English sentence So tell him I'm coming now, you know, because I can't make it tomorrow. Mela għidlu li ġejja issa, ta, għax ma nistax għada. Mela tell him I'm coming now, ta, għax I can't make it tomorrow.

While code switching in English sentences is most predominant in the

Northern Harbour District
, code switching in a Maltese sentence is much more common throughout the country. This is usually because the Maltese word is not so well known or used. Examples include:

  • the Maltese word for a mushroom is faqqiegħ, but most people still tend to call it a mushroom in Maltese.
  • the proper Maltese word for television is televiżjoni (as derived from Italian), but most people still call it a television, for example Rajt film fuq it-television ilbieraħ ("I saw a film on television yesterday").

See also

References

  1. ISBN 9781853599293
    .
  2. ISSN 0172-8865
    .
  3. ^ Palma, Alfred (27 November 2011). "Growing list of Manglish monstrosities". Times of Malta. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  4. ^ Brincat, Joseph M. (February 2005). "Maltese – an unusual formula". MED Magazine – Issue 27.
  5. ^ Leone-Ganado, Philip (21 June 2012). "Exploring a Stereotype: Sliema Girls Say". Sunday Circle. Retrieved 13 March 2015.

External links

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