Currently Angry
Up until now, I have tried to keep this blog positive by sharing the good things and leaving out the bad things. I must say that overall I have a positive impression of
Malta and the Maltese, and I am quite happy here. But today I am feeling frustrated, so I will now use the blog to vent and complain.
My current frustration stems from my attempts at carrying out conversations in Maltese. I have written about this before, but my irritation about this has reached a boiling point. Here I am making a big effort to actually learn and use the national language, something which, let me point out again, many foreigners do not bother to do. And what do I get in return? I get treated like a circus animal who just juggled a few balls, and/or there is an exaggerated surprise… and then I get spoken to in English for the rest of the conversation.
Just yesterday I asked someone how old her grandson is, and the answer was “oh you understand Maltese?” which was then followed by a long explanation about how Maltese is so difficult (does she realise how hard it is to learn English?) and on to life in Malta and why she would have moved overseas. I never got an answer to my question.
A few weeks ago we were at a social gathering, and I participated in the conversation for well over an hour. I was replying to comments made (in English, but obviously I was understanding) and we got into some heated debates. Then I say is-sena t-tajba (happy new year) to the hostess on the way out the door, and she makes this little squeal like I just pulled rabbit out of a hat. I could not believe it and I got quite irritated. I wanted to yell out ”I have been following your conversation for AN HOUR and answering you, did you not notice?” but of course I remained politely silent. Someone else then said to me, in English, ”oh, next time I’ll speak to you in Maltese!” Why next time, why not start then?
I know what the Maltese will say: that they find it impolite to speak to foreigners in Maltese. Frankly, I am tired of hearing that excuse. Because it might seem impolite to you, but let me tell you how it feels like to a foreigner trying to learn your language and integrate into your society. It comes across as extremely unwelcoming. The message is: “do not learn our language, do not try to integrate into our society, do not try to join in our conversations.”
Currently, this is getting me so upset that I do not even want to try any more. I am glad that I can read and understand a good amount of Maltese, so that I can keep up with signs, newspapers, and conversations when I need to. I will continue to learn it for my own benefit. But if my efforts are not appreciated, then I will not make an effort. From now on, I think I will speak only English. Speaking Maltese seems pointless and a waste of everyone’s time, starting with my own.
Grrrr!
I wouldn’t worry much… the Maltese speak English between themselves! And ‘happy new year’ is normal between us small-minded islanders as the Maltese counterpart ‘is-sena t-tajba’ is. I write emails, letters, have telephone calls, and meet people and the language spoken is English… and we’re all Maltese. I know it doesn’t make sense but that’s how it is.
My advice would be to use the Maltese that you have learned as “rabbit out of the hat” trick
it’s an easy way to have people like you more and remember you. Other than that, as long as you understand the Maltese language in conversations, you’re don’t need to worry or try to understand the sad bilingual bunch you’re trying to live with on this tiny rock 
I think you make more of an effort than I do to speak Maltese. Actually I don’t make an effort at all cos I just figure as long as I’m understanding the person who is speaking to me and they are understanding me, then I’ll speak in the language which I am more comfortable with, which in my case, is English. But is is impressive that you have managed to learn enough Maltese to follow and participate in a conversation, and you’re right about most people not bothering, so feel proud that you have
WOW. What an outbreak. You know, I’m relieved to find that you’re actually human - I had started thinking there must be something wrong with you… you were way too nice!
OK, seriously now. You might be overreacting just a little bit - but I do understand completely where you’re coming from!! Don’t get angry, just keep persisting - and give it a little time. Perhaps it’s unfortunate in your case that you’re meeting too many people who LOVE to speak English (I’m trying to keep out my judgement - call it prejudice if you want - about THOSE…). I’m certain that in time you will find people who’ll be grateful for your efforts - and you’ll get to experience your well-deserved sense of achievement! (If you’re in a hurry, come on over to Gozo for a while and chat up some locals!)
I have American friends who had the same problem (and frustration!). I think eventually they just had to keep speaking Maltese until it FINALLY sunk in to their friends/neighbours etc. that they really (a) did want to and (b) could converse in Maltese.
My personal frustration with Maltese was in the sheer mechanics of learning it, because I am lousy at foreign langauges. There wasn’t any blood involved, but plenty of sweat and tears, I assure you. Anyway, now my friends are fluent in Maltese (and so am I, heheh), and I think it would be a shame if you abandoned the effort since you have come so far already. Kuragg! And I promise to speak to you in Maltese if I ever meet you.
Hey G,
Your frustration is more than understandable. I can sympathise with it since I have the had similar experiences here in Luxembourg (within the International community) when I try to use the lingua franca of the Court - French. You cannot escape the niggling feeling that you are constantly under cross-examination and that every vowel that you pronounce is being court marshalled in the interlocutor’s brain and sent to the guillotine for a summary execution. Whenever I go to Metz there are two kind of reactions: (i) the How Sweet your Accent is (mostly ladies); and the (ii) God, Another Arab Trying to Speak French (mostly xenophobes).
Ma nahsibx li ghandek tieqaf tipprova titkellem. Bil-Malti nghidu li trid tigi taqa’ u tqum minn dak li jahseb haddiehor u tkompli tipprova. Jien hekk qed naghmel. Sa sentejn ilu kelli Franciz imbiccer u taljanizzat. Illum sirt nahseb bil-Franciz avolja il-pronuncja baqaghla hafna hafna xoghol! Ipprova gheleb l-ewwel istint li tibghat lil kullhadd jiehdu (****) u ibqa’ tkellem bl-ilsien li ghogbok tant. Emminni wara ftit zmien taf tibda timpressjona anki bi kliem li haddiehor li suppost huwa Malti lanqas ikun jafu. Lili diga grali meta irbaht loghba Scrabble bil-Franciz…. kontra Francizi!!
Issa nistenna bil-herqa biex nara l-ewwel bloggata tieghek bil-Malti. U tinsiex… zball jaghmlu kullhadd, izda ftit huma dawk li lesti jitghallmu minnu!
Hello G,
I understand exactly what I mean. I moved from Berlin to Gozo almost three years ago and made exactly the same experiences like you, although I think you understand already much more than I do. When I came here I was surprised how few other foreigners who had been living here for a long time, didn’t speak Maltese. I love learning languages, but I’m not too keen to study just for myself, I think, the fascinating thing about learning a language is to communicate with other people and to be happy how you slowly slowly understand more and more of something that in the beginning sounded like chinese or a a secret language. I got so used to the fact, that every time I say something in Maltese, people start laughing that I reduced myself to making jokes in Maltese, actually always the same few sentences, which are funny anyway, to make the reaction fit to what I actually said. Most of the times I gave up to try to speak Maltese in shops and so on. Of course, luckily there are people that appreciate my effort to speak Maltese, and if I know this, I keep on trying. And as I work at the reception of a hotel I’m always happy if some guests arrive, mostly older people, who doesnt speak English. And then I enjoy just trying speaking Maltese with the help of mime….and then I only get my collegues in emergency….but I realize something the same that you describe…some people don’t appreciate my efforts, because they don’t want me to enter into their secret language, they don’t want me to understand the comments that they make. I was thinking if this has to do something with the Maltese History, they were and are so strong in their culture, they survived so much.
I understand how you feel and sometimes I feel the same, but most of the times I’m happy about the people who appreciate my efforts and who try to help me or about somebody who made me the biggest compliment….and of course joking at the same time by calling me Germaniza Ghawdxija.
Keep on trying!
Hi Grego,
I think all foreigners residing in Malta and actually making an effort to learn Maltese come across the same problem: no practice to speak it. I do not believe though that Maltese do not want to share their language and keep it secret from foreigners. In fact, I have many Maltese that encourage me to keep on studying their language and who take time and patience with me to speak in Maltese. On the other hand, I guess a lot of Maltese are just not used to a foreigner giving that effort (or that it is actually possible for a foreigner to understand AND speak Maltese). Also, often conversations here are so mixed up in English and Maltese that people don’t really notice in what languages they were just speaking in, especially if it is a heated debate… and I think that what have might happened that evening! I guess, we call these experiences culture shock. It took me a long time to understand certain aspects of Maltese culture and what I initially thought of being rude turned out to be just “normal” here.
Oh and you certainly have to hang around people from Rabat. They are very proud of their language and you will definitely get a chance to speak in Maltese. Another tip, come and join us at the Maltese lessons. It’s great fun and we are forced to speak in Maltese there!
Keep on trying and NEVER give up!
naqra tard imma ha nippruvaw xorta…
milli nista’ nara minn fuq dan il-blog m’ghandekx livell ta’ xi pensjonanta Ingliza li tghid hames kelmiet bil-Malti f’party biex idahhaq. Kif qed tinnota mill-kummenti fuq dan il-blog (u wisq probabbli tieghi ukoll) ghandek livell - specjalment fl-ortografija - daqs jew anke ahjar minn ta’ certu maltin…
Ahna poplu pragmatiku zzejjed… u inhobbu nilghabuha ta’ l-Inglizi (trid tisma’ biss dak l-accent li ghandom l-airhostesses fuq it-titjiriet ta’ l-AirMalta qishom kopja hazina ta’ l-Ingliz tar-Regina fis-snin 50). Il-malti ghadu mentalment il-lingwa ta’ bejniethna mhux lingwa “ta’ veru”…
Nikkumpatik.
Ghal ragunijiet li m’inix ser noqghod nidhol fihom l-Olandiz hu lingwa mitkellma minn minoranza fi Brussell… Meta mmur il-librerija fjamminga jew centru kulturali fjamming hawn nigi dejjem inkoraggat nitkellem bl-Olandiz - ghalkemm kwazi kullhadd jaf bl-Ingliz jew bil-… dejjem ifottuni b’xi kompliment jew b’xi inkoraggament “Maar waarom!? U sprekt goed Nederlands!” (gidba ghax il-livell tieghi baxx imma xorta jitfghuni f’nassa helwa…).
Pajjizna ghandu bzonn Maltin bhalek. Taqtax qalbek. Mhux qed tahli hinek - qed tinvestih biex tintegra ahjar u biex tghallem certu Maltin naqra amorpropju.
¡Buena suerte!