The English language in Malta

Abstract

The history of the English Language in Malta is no older than the history of British rule in Malta. No one learned, or taught, the language before 1800, and for many years after many were doubtful about its value as a cultural language and were dead set against it as a language of the administration, in spite of the fact that the Maltese had welcomed the English in Malta with open arms when they wanted to throw out Napoleon's soldiers. Our ancestors for many years wanted English protection but not the English tongue. The reason was that Italian had been for several centuries the cultural and 'political language of the Maltese intelligentsia, and the people's native tongue was looked down upon, underrated and completely neglected for literary composition. No wonder that the English language had to fight very hard not only for its survival but also for its long-delayed official recognition. Both the people's own language and the English language had to prove their worth and fight their way up before they were accepted by the upper classes of these islands.