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Maltenglish—also called Minglish, Maltese English, Mixed Maltese English, or Maltingliż—refers to the phenomenon of code switching between Maltese and English.[citation needed]
While English is an official language of the Maltese Islands (along with the Maltese language—the native tongue), it is, for many Maltese, considered a second language. As a result, many Maltese switch back and forth or mix lexical aspects of Maltese and English while engaging in informal conversation or writing.
In the past, this phenomenon used to be associated with the upper class and with Maltese people who serviced the British colonialists. Of late, however, Maltenglish has spread throughout the islands of Malta and Gozo and at least a third of the population practices it regularly. [1]
Maltenglish speakers are commonly referred to as tal-pepe by the Maltese. Language switching is strongest in the Northern Harbour localities of Sliema, Swieqi, San Gwann, Madliena, Pembroke and St. Julian's where the overwhelming majority of residents prefer to use English rather than Maltese for daily conversations.
[edit] Examples
- Tiha kiss il-mummy (Give mummy a kiss) - an example of Maltenglish baby talk
- Thank you hafna (Thanks a lot)
- Goodbye (The greeting one may receive when passing an acquaintance in the street, when one does not stop to talk - instead of hello).
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Ignasi Badia i Capdevila, "A view of the linguistic situation in Malta", Noves SL: Revista de Sociolingüística (2004). [1]
