Truth be told, a large portion of Maltese people struggle with spelling and grammar when it comes to writing in Maltese. We can only imagine how non-natives learning Maltese as a foreign language feel when presented with the daunting task of writing in Maltese. Keep in mind that Maltese is the only Semitic language that uses the Latin alphabet. That may explain some of its distinctive and unique peculiarities. But help is at hand! Whether you’re a local wishing to brush up on your mother tongue or a foreigner wishing to learn Maltese, you may find these resources useful. Go ahead and gain a greater command of Malta’s national language!
1. Facebook groups
In an age of quick fixes, when a prompt reply to a query is often preferred to conducting research, the Facebook group Kelmet il-Malti has grown very popular. In this group, peers will reply within minutes to any Maltese language-related questions, from spelling to grammar. On the other hand, to improve on or learn Maltese in a fun way, gradually and consistently, check out the Facebook pages of Kelma Kelma and Pristineworks.
2. Pay attention
Anyone can improve their Maltese considerably by listening to the language carefully and reading it out loud. Watch Maltese television to listen to the language come alive in its most raw and dynamic form. And read a book in Maltese (with a dictionary at hand) to visually grasp all the intricacies of Maltese spelling and grammar. Courses in Maltese are also a great learning facility; these are ideal for foreigners but locals can benefit from them too!
3. Google Translate
It must be said that Google Translate is far from accurate when it comes to translating to and from Maltese. You should not rely solely on it, especially if you’re determined to start learning Maltese seriously. But while there is a lot of room for improvement in the app’s ability to properly translate Maltese, it may provide a reasonably good starting point. Particularly useful is that if you point your camera at a block of text, the mobile app will translate it in real-time!
4. Online Maltese Dictionary
Those willing to go the extra mile can use this online Maltese dictionary by the Maltese Language Resource Server project. Although this dictionary is rather basic and may lack some technical terms, it is useful for anyone who doesn’t have a physical Maltese dictionary at hand. Learn how to use the online Maltese dictionary to fully exploit this resource and make it one of your easy-to-access online tools! See also other Maltese language tools and resources by the MLRS coordinated by the University of Malta, as a collaboration between the Institute of Linguistics & Language Technology and the Department of Artificial Intelligence.
5. Il-Ġabra – A Lexicon for Maltese
To check spelling and the proper conjugation of verbs, use Il-Ġabra, a free, open lexicon for Maltese. Il-Ġabra includes translations into English and you can search using words, phrases or the morphological root. You also have the option to search by the English translation. This 2013 project by John J. Camilleri collects various lexical resources into a single database that is hosted and supported by the University of Malta. This resource emerged as part of the M.Sc. Thesis ‘A Computational Grammar and Lexicon for Maltese’ at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
6. National Council of the Maltese Language
When the correct spelling and grammar of Maltese is an essential requisite, for publications for example, refer to the website of the National Council of the Maltese Language. This website is a truly useful resource for anyone wishing to learn Maltese or master the language. The National Council of the Maltese Language is responsible for establishing the orthography of the Maltese Language, including the spelling of words and phrases derived from English (see Deċiżjonijiet 1 & 2). It also provides other useful resources and interesting information, from historical facts about the Maltese language to a FAQ on spelling and more.
7. Physical resources
If you want to learn Maltese or refine your command of the language, keep a good old-fashioned paper dictionary handy. The best acclaimed is Joseph Aquilina’s ‘Concise Maltese-English, English-Maltese Dictionary’. This comes in a portable version as well as an extended version that includes several volumes. Charles Briffa’s ‘The English-Maltese Dictionary for the 21st Century’ is also good, however, it may contain some inaccuracies due to it being published prior to the aforementioned Deċiżjonijiet 2.
It is never too late to learn Maltese; the more fun and varied your resources, the better your chance of success!
