FC Bayern Forum

[ramsej84]

Had a Libyan couple today... They said that that they don't understand a lot(their daughter does) they also confirmed that Tunisians understand us better

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[MUTU]

Had a Libyan couple today

Nice, how did they taste?

[#12]

Did you let them live?

Jk, sorry, too tempting

[ramsej84]

[MUTU]

Did you let them live?

Jk, sorry, too tempting

Doesn't it usually work the other way round?

[FCBayernMunchen]

Alphabet aside I doubt Arabic is harder than Polish. However keep in mind that - also alphabet aside - Arabic is probably one of the easiest for Maltese speakers so I may be biased.

The other way round is even more true. As in, Maltese is so easy for Arabic-speakers that you can speak to most of them in Maltese and they can understand most of what you're saying.

Yes... especially if they're familiar with some of our other sources (Romance languages and English).

It is my (probably too hopeful) opinion that when the situation in the Arab world finally calms down, Maltese should be promoted as the language of cross-cultural trade. As you said, Arabs tend to find it relatively easy to learn Maltese, whereas Maltese, because of it's many words from Latin and English sources, and especially because of our alphabet, is much easier for Western people to learn than Arabic. I am convinced that the usefulness of Maltese would be recognised if it wasn't such a small language in terms of native speakers.

[MUTU]

I predict that by the time "the situation in the Arab world finally calms down", Maltese people would no longer be using the Maltese language.

[FCBayernMunchen]

I predict that by the time "the situation in the Arab world finally calms down", Maltese people would no longer be using the Maltese language.

I think that is an alarmist opinion which admittedly several people seem to have. It won't happen.

[MUTU]

I predict that by the time "the situation in the Arab world finally calms down", Maltese people would no longer be using the Maltese language.

I think that is an alarmist opinion which admittedly several people seem to have. It won't happen.

You can't argue with the fact that the language is dying. More and more Maltese parents are talking to their kids in English nowadays and when these kids will grow up and have kids of their own they are almost guaranteed to talk to them in English as well, so each generation will know less and less Maltese until it would have a minority which would send it to a spiralling death.

[FCBayernMunchen]

On the other hand, at the time of the last census (admittedly a few years ago now), 9/10 felt more comfortable speaking in Maltese than in English, including immigrants. Maltese literature is selling more than ever. And there is a renewed interest in the language seen in the highly charged opinions about the spelling of English loanwords and in the huge popularity of a number of Facebook pages and groups about the Maltese language. Maltese remains a compulsory subject all the way from the beginning to the end of compulsory education and is a requirement for local students to enter the University of Malta.

What you mention is true - although many of these children are still exposed to Maltese even in family (grandparents) and several will pick up good Maltese (though admittedly, not many) - but I am convinced that it's not enough to kill a language. The cases you mention are not the majority and I don't think they will be unless immigrants outnumber locals.

I would say a bigger threat is the incredible number of young people who are leaving the country. However I think most of them tend to take the language with them. Many of my friends delight in teaching foreign friends Maltese words and I know there are Maltese courses for children in Australia and Luxembourg.

[#12]

Did you let them live?

Jk, sorry, too tempting

Doesn't it usually work the other way round?

Don’t get him started

[ramsej84]

we love Libyans we did and do a lot of business with them... tbh it was better when M.Gheddafi was still in power... not only for us

[#12]

You mean ”business”?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f2c-tMZSZtY

[ramsej84]

You mean ”business”?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f2c-tMZSZtY

nothing was found apart from oil to be robbed by the west...
same as in Iraq with Saddam...

next ... Iran...

thankfully the same tactics did not work out in Syria

[#12]

I was just kidding...