Bilingualism : a Gozitan perspective

Abstract

Focusing specifically on Gozo, the sister island of Malta, this study aims at investigating the bilingual issue in Gozo from various aspects including language proficiency and language use in different domains. In addition, this research draws attention to the linguistic background of Gozitans and whether this background determines their language use and linguistic habits. This study will zoom in on code-switching and attempts to investigate whether this is also a common linguistic phenomenon in Gozo as is the case in Malta as has been documented in studies by Camilleri: 1997; Sciriha: 1996, 1998; Sciriha and Vassallo: 2006. This study will also explore how Gozitans perceive codeswitching, its use or lack of its use, as well as their attitude towards those who codeswitch. In view of the quantitative nature of this research, the researcher conducted a total of one hundred face-to-face interviews with Gozitans from two contrasting localities namely Nadur and Għarb.