Unrecognizable Arabic-Maltese : the innovative Maltese element in the Maltese language

Abstract

The takeover of the Maltese archipelago by Norman Sicily in the late eleventh century paved the way for the definitive severance of ties, two centuries later, between the then embryonic Maltese language and its acrolect, Arabic. However, although Malta's political, social and religious destinies were bound to be irrevocably dictated by successive European powers, linguistically the situation was to develop otherwise. The relative isolation from Malta's centres of power of the few thousands of the Maltese populace, mainly peasants and fishermen, led to a situation in which the early Maltese language had no other alternative but to fend for itself in finding ways which guaranteed its existence and survival in time.This was achieved by a remarkable balancing act which saw the Maltese language, on the one hand retaining the conservative elements from the previous contacts with the urban centres in the Maghreb and elsewhere,) and on the other, proceeding'towards the reinterpretation of its native elements to cater for Malta's new exigencies. This reinterpretation of linguistic facts affected all levels of language. The resulting "Maltese" component collocates most naturally with the other elements making up the Maltese language, predominantly Arabic, Italian (especially in its, Sicilian variety) and, much later, English. This short lexicological study analyzes a number of local linguistic developments which, notwithstanding their discrete Arabic elements, find no reflexes in the Arabic language. The analysis is based upon the preface of a Maltese publication produced in 2001 by the Academy of the Maltese Language.