Is Maltese closer to Arabic or Sicilian?

[alfieb]

Malta1066falzon could much better demonstrate how the language looks, so I'll just leave the floor open to discussion rather than trying to steer it one way or the other.

[YeshAtid]

Physically as well?

[Philo]

Why did'nt you add a poll?

[alfieb]

Physically as well?
No, we're only talking about the language, written and spoken, not phenotype.

[Virtuous]

Malta1066falzon could much better demonstrate how the language looks, so I'll just leave the floor open to discussion rather than trying to steer it one way or the other.

O GOD, I COVERED THIS SUBJECT LIKE A MILLION TIMES.

YES OKAY MALTESE IS ARABIC, MALTESE PEOPLE ARE ARABS, MALTESE CULTURE IS ARABIC, WE SHOVE KEBABS UP OUR ASSES LIKE GOOD MUSLIMS.









over reacted much?

[Philo]

No, we're only talking about the language, written and spoken, not phenotype.

Yeah I know that. You should have added a poll and we could see what people think.

[alfieb]

O GOD, I COVERED THIS SUBJECT LIKE A MILLION TIMES.

YES OKAY MALTESE IS ARABIC, MALTESE PEOPLE ARE ARABS, MALTESE CULTURE IS ARABIC, WE SHOVE KEBABS UP OUR ASSES LIKE GOOD MUSLIMS.

But there was never a poll before now. :rolleyes:

Remove kebab. Insert kannoli.

[alfieb]

Yeah I know that. You should have added a poll and we could see what people think.
There is a poll. It's called replying too soon.

[YeshAtid]

it seems to be a fusion

[Philo]

There is a poll. It's called replying too soon.

OK. Sorry.

[ariel]

are maltese language related to phoenician or punic language?

[Virtuous]

50% Romance, 40% Siculo-Arabic, 10% Germanic.

Most function words: Siculo Arabic

Script: Latin


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6G3GHA2T0s

[alfieb]

are maltese language related to phoenician or punic language?
Neither Sicilian nor Maltese have significant Phoenician influence on language, unfortunately. The Semitic influence is strictly from the 200 years Malta was ruled by Arabs from the 800s to 1000s. It is the only living Siculo-Arabic dialect that survived our Catholicization.

[Virtuous]

It's a fucking BURDEN, that's what. They couldn't fuck our women so they decided to leave their mark on our language.

[alfieb]

It's a fucking BURDEN, that's what. They couldn't fuck our women so they decided to leave their mark on our language.

You're a very conservative people. Even moreso than we are. That was your own undoing in that regard.

A shame the influence of your beloved Knights was rather minimal.

[Szegedist]

What grammar is the language?

[Peyrol]

It's an hybrid language, but the romance imput is very strong.

[Virtuous]

You're a very conservative people. Even moreso than we are. That was your own undoing in that regard.

A shame the influence of your beloved Knights was rather minimal.

100 Years ago, a battle of scholars happened, Pro-British/Maltese and Pro-Italian, the pro Maltese won and these pro Maltese decided to make "Maltese" language the National Language of Malta.

Melitae/Malta = an Island with thousands of years under European/Phoenician/Roman/Early Neolithic influence.
Maltese = A mixture of Italian, Sicilian Arabic and Germanic. Sicilian Arabic left by 200 years of oppression.

[SKYNET]

Sicilian. Most of them speak in English as well

[alb0zfinest]

O GOD, I COVERED THIS SUBJECT LIKE A MILLION TIMES.

YES OKAY MALTESE IS ARABIC, MALTESE PEOPLE ARE ARABS, MALTESE CULTURE IS ARABIC, WE SHOVE KEBABS UP OUR ASSES LIKE GOOD MUSLIMS.









over reacted much?
Good you finally told the truth :D

[Peyrol]

100 Years ago, a battle of scholars happened, Pro-British/Maltese and Pro-Italian, the pro Maltese won and these pro Maltese decided to make "Maltese" language the National Language of Malta.

Melitae/Malta = an Island with thousands of years under European/Phoenician/Roman/Early Neolithic influence.
Maltese = A mixture of Italian, Sicilian Arabic and Germanic. Sicilian Arabic left by 200 years of oppression.


...però ricevete le nostre TV e molti di voi parlano perfettamente la nostra lingua...

[Virtuous]

...però ricevete le nostre TV e molti di voi parlano perfettamente la nostra lingua...

ma vaglielo a dire a sti universitari comunisti jesuiti prof del cazzo :lol:

[alfieb]

ma vaglielo a dire a sti universitari comunisti jesuiti prof del cazzo :lol:

Comunisti gesuiti? Questo è un ossimoro :rolleyes:

[Virtuous]

Comunisti gesuiti? Questo è un ossimoro :rolleyes:

gia :P

[Sikeliot]

Arabic grammatically, Sicilian vocabulary wise.

[alfieb]

Arabic grammatically, Sicilian vocabulary wise.

At least it's read left-to-right. :lol:

[Virtuous]

At least it's read left-to-right. :lol:

ancora una volta...gia!

[Arbërori]

I'd say it's originally a Romance language, ofcourse, it might have been Arabized, but that doesn't mean shit. :lol:

What matters are genetics, some Levantine here & there, which technically still makes them white. :P

[ChocolateFace]

Much more closer to Sicilian

[Portukalos]

Arabic grammatically, Sicilian vocabulary wise.

its basic vocabulary is more Arabic than Italian , it's only its official vocabulary which is said to be more Sicilian. Their basic vocabulary of everyday is Arabic to be more precise. An Italian won't understand anything of an everyday Maltese neighbours conversion. :)

First setence of the human rights in Maltese :

Il-bnedmin kollha jitwieldu ħielsa u ugwali fid-dinjità u d-drittijiet. Huma mogħnija bir-raġuni u bil-kuxjenza u għandhom iġibu ruħhom ma' xulxin bi spirtu ta' aħwa

[alfieb]

Il-bnedmin kollha jitwieldu ħielsa u ugwali fid-dinjità u d-drittijiet. Huma mogħnija bir-raġuni u bil-kuxjenza u għandhom iġibu ruħhom ma' xulxin bi spirtu ta' aħwa

Plenty of words there of Sicilian origin. The thing is, if they wanted to write it in a way that was more understandable to Romance-speakers, they have words in their language that are in everyday use that they could've gone with. For instance, "hielsa" means the same as "liberu". Both are Maltese words, but one is Sicilian origin, the other Siculo-Arabic origin. "Bnedmin" could've been replaced by "umani", which is the same as the Sicilian word for humans.

[ABest]

The Maltese language is apparently Semitic, with heavy Latin elements. It's akin to English being Germanic but with heavy Latin (and also Greek) elements.

Also, I've read that it's the only Semitic language in the world to be written in Latin script.

[Peyrol]

its basic vocabulary is more Arabic than Italian , it's only its official vocabulary which is said to be more Sicilian. Their basic vocabulary of everyday is Arabic to be more precise. An Italian won't understand anything of an everyday Maltese neighbours conversion. :)

First setence of the human rights in Maltese :

Il-bnedmin kollha jitwieldu ħielsa u ugwali fid-dinjità u d-drittijiet. Huma mogħnija bir-raġuni u bil-kuxjenza u għandhom iġibu ruħhom ma' xulxin bi spirtu ta' aħwa

...

[Virtuous]

Plenty of words there of Sicilian origin. The thing is, if they wanted to write it in a way that was more understandable to Romance-speakers, they have words in their language that are in everyday use that they could've gone with. For instance, "hielsa" means the same as "liberu". Both are Maltese words, but one is Sicilian origin, the other Siculo-Arabic origin. "Bnedmin" could've been replaced by "umani", which is the same as the Sicilian word for humans.

Eżattament, it also depends on who is speaking. Mostly Northeners/non rural people are the ones that use Siculo-Italian vocab, instead of Siculo-Arabic. Words that have been spoken by my Grandpa's generation were replaced by Romance.

For example, my mum says kikkra, I say tazza (cup/mug).

[CrystalMaiden]

Their language is filled with Jihad sounding words, but they don't write it in the terrorist squigly lines.

[Virtuous]

Their language is filled with Jihad sounding words, but they don't write it in the terrorist squigly lines.

Look at me, I'm so mad that I'm about to blow up.

[CrystalMaiden]

Look at me, I'm so mad that I'm about to blow up.

I wish I could.

Dibs on the kidneys (if they survive the explosions). :coffee:

[Virtuous]

I wish I could.

Dibs on the kidneys (if they survive the explosions). :coffee:

okej.

[StonyArabia]

Arabic

[Shah-Jehan]

Arabic

It's definitely closer to Arabic as it descends from Siculo-Arabic influenced by Romance...

[Wadaad]

Sounds like an Arabic creole to me...similar to how the Darija dialect of Tunis has Berber influences vis-a-vis Hassaniya Arabic...Maltese has Latin influences vis-a-vis Siculo-Arabic.

I can understand 20-40% of Maltese based solely on my classical Arabic training.

[Philo]

Yep, the Arab jury has decided Maltese is Arabic :D. I know a certain Maltese who would not like the results of this poll. ;)

[Dandelion]

They speak a language close to Tunisian Arabic and there exists a high degree of mutual intelligibility with Arabic speakers. I don't see why anyone would vote Sicilian, the Arabic-influenced Romance language.

I sadly don't speak Arabic, lack the discipline to learn it, but it wouldn't make sense if it were closer to Sicilian.

[Shah-Jehan]

They speak a language close to Tunisian Arabic and there exists a high degree of mutual intelligibility with Arabic speakers. I don't see why anyone would vote Sicilian, the Arabic-influenced Romance language.

Some Maltese members here are probably ashamed of speaking a Semitic language or having linguistic similarities with those "terrible" Arabs...

[Dandelion]

Some Maltese members here are probably ashamed of speaking a Semitic language or having linguistic similarities with those "terrible" Arabs...

Well, it is just language. They have been Christian majority for their entire existence and live under Christian-European rule since 1091 (which a Maltese call would call the year of their 'liberation'). Still, why be ashamed of speaking the a variant of Arabic. It would be great to have a high degree of intelligibility after all those centuries. A sign of civilisation if you ask me.

[Shah-Jehan]

Well, it is just language. They have been Christian majority for their entire existence and live under Christian-European rule since 1091 (which a Maltese call would call the year of their 'liberation'). Still, why be ashamed of speaking the a variant of Arabic. It would be great to have a high degree of intelligibility after all those centuries. A sign of civilisation if you ask me.
I agree but, I remember some Maltese members say that the language left by the Arabs are sort of a burden or something...I'd have pride in my language, don't know why they talk about it that way, it's not like Christian Arabs don't exist...

[Veneda]

Malta je Polska :D

[King Claus]

patato boy and patato woman:1_2:

[Virtuous]

Mess with my potatoes and you mess with me.

[Virtuous]

I agree but, I remember some Maltese members say that the language left by the Arabs are sort of a burden or something...I'd have pride in my language, don't know why they talk about it that way, it's not like Christian Arabs don't exist...

- Christianity or Religion has nothing to do with the Maltese language.

- Maltese language is Maltese, not Arab. Just like French is French, not Latin.

- Language isn't part of a gene pool. I don't think Haitians are French Christians if I had to go by your reasoning.

- Yes, the language coincides perfectly with the geographical position, however, it doesn't take away that the Arabic language was an imposed one.

- The only frustrating fact is that the language being intermediate, between two continents (which makes the language quite unique), it is often subject of debate, and with these tedious repetitive debates, people can make up stupid ideas.

[kitten]

O GOD, I COVERED THIS SUBJECT LIKE A MILLION TIMES.

YES OKAY MALTESE IS ARABIC, MALTESE PEOPLE ARE ARABS, MALTESE CULTURE IS ARABIC, WE SHOVE KEBABS UP OUR ASSES LIKE GOOD MUSLIMS.









over reacted much?



So I come back....and this is the first thing I see......


:D

[kitten]

Some Maltese members here are probably ashamed of speaking a Semitic language or having linguistic similarities with those "terrible" Arabs...


There are two(?) Maltese members here....

Personally I am not ashamed of the native language, it reflects our history. I find it amusing when I go to places like Tunis and people there actually speak to me in Maltese... had a Serbian friend who could speak it very very well too.

Also, I am actually Gozitan, which means I speak an older version / dialect of Maltese which is much much more similar to Arabic.

[Maximum Speed]

I think maltese people are like sicilians/south italians.
Language is semitic

[kitten]

If you are really interested in knowing I would suggest reading these:

http://http://www.thinksite.eu/userfiles/file/Content%20-%20PDFs/3_%20%20The%20origin%20of%20the%20Maltese_Language .pdf

http://www.aboutmalta.com/grazio/study2.html

http://www.maltesering.com/maltese_language.asp

[Anthropologique]

Maltese has elements of both. I voted "Arabic" because Maltese seems to have more affinities in that direction.

[Anthropologique]

Some Maltese members here are probably ashamed of speaking a Semitic language or having linguistic similarities with those "terrible" Arabs...

Yes, Arabs are terrible ... aliens from another universe. :D:D