Language Muse: April 2013

Friday, April 26, 2013

I love Maltese!

Now I have managed to read the first two chapters of the first book.
I have 402 flashcards with words and sentences. That's the words from the first chapter + about 100 extra.
I have learned the Maltese alphabet. I need to continue to the numbers.
And I'm listening to Radio 101. I'm catching a word every now and then. :-)

It is a fascinating language. It's such a mix of Semitic languages, Italian/Sicilian, English and even a bit of French... They have a lovely way of speaking English... very British, but distinctly not British :-D And I love how the pronounce the R's. :-)

kejk tal-ħawħ

Ingredjenti u Riċetti:

=> 6 bajd
zokkor => 1 u 1/2 kikkra
dqiq => 1 u 1/2 kikkra
jogurt => 100 dm
trab => 1 pakkett
meraq tal-lumi => 1 tablespoon
=> 20 ħawħ

il-preparazzjoni ta 'riċetti:

Musk-abjad tal-bajd sakemm iebes, imbagħad żid il-ħin, waqt li tħawwad wara kull partita, zokkor, isfra tal-bajd, halib, dqiq, baking powder off ma' meraq tal-lumi. Ferra t-taħlita ġo post, bix-xaħam bil-butir u dqiq għat-trab ma ħawħ ħielsa minn ġebel u jitkisser fil nofs u jagħti l-kejk fil-forn għal 30 minuta.

Now... what is "dm"? Milliliter sounds credible, that is 1 dl, or about 1/3 cup. And is it really yogurt? And how much is one package of powder? 20 peaches? Really? Well... six eggs is a lot...
But sounds interesting.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

One just have to love Google Translate :-D

"that even the teachers were still surprised that Roberto had become a Christian and be awake during lessons after a break of noon!"

"illi anki l-għalliema kienu baqgħu sorpriżi li Kristjan u Roberto kienu saru jkunu mqajmin waqt il-lezzjonijiet ta' wara l-brejk ta' nofsinhar!"

All the wondrous things becoming a Christian causes... :-D

I like Maltese very much. It's fascinating how it has taken influence from both South and North, and also English. There was for a long time no national television on Malta, they watched the Italian tv shows.

Malta is a tiny island in the Mediterranean sea, about half way from Africa to Europe. There were people living there before the Phoenicians came, but the population of Malta is today more Phoenician than for example the population of Syria. Now, I haven't checked this, but I believe their language is closest to the ancient Phoenician among the modern languages. So - Lebanese Phoenicians could learn Maltese and slowly make it Phoenician with removing the Italian and English influences, and adding some Hebrew and Syriac. In some 100 years or so, no-one would know.

Anyway, Malta is a very beautiful place, typically Mediterranean, and it has a long history.