https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1041 2026-08-22T12:04:59Z 2026-08-22T12:04:59Z Ellul, Dwayne https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148391 2026-08-04T08:16:30Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Functional trade-offs in bilingual lexicography : a theory-based criticism of Aquilina's Maltese–English dictionary Authors: Ellul, Dwayne Abstract: This article presents a theory-based criticism of Aquilina's Maltese–English Dictionary (AMED), the most authoritative bilingual dictionary in Maltese lexicography. Grounded in Function Theory, it evaluates AMED in relation to communicative and cognitive functions, with particular attention to the interaction between structure, access, and lexicographic information costs. Methodologically, the study combines Tarp's (2017) model of dictionary criticism with Nielsen's (2009) framework of significant features and information costs. Drawing on a systematically con structed sample, it analyses AMED's dictionary concept, structural design, and functional performance across text production, reception, proofreading, translation, and cognitive consultation. The findings show that AMED's authority rests primarily on its cognitive strengths, including encyclopaedic scope, morphological coherence, and historical depth. At the same time, elevated search related and comprehension-related information costs reduce its effectiveness in punctual communicative use. These limitations arise not from a lack of information, but from its structural organisation. More specifically, they reflect an implicit, historically grounded polyfunctional concept that prioritises documentary completeness over functional differentiation. By making these trade-offs explicit, the article contributes to theory-based dictionary criticism and demonstrates how functional analysis can provide explanatory insight into uneven lexicographic performance. It also offers implications for the design of future Maltese–English lexicographic resources better aligned with contemporary user needs.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Ellul, Dwayne https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148251 2026-07-27T11:00:56Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Kelma għal kelma : teżawru tematiku Malti Authors: Ellul, Dwayne Abstract: Teżawru tematiku joffri vantaġġi kbar lil kull min ifittex fih. Vantaġġ ewlieni hu li l-kliem kollu marbut ma’ qasam partikolari jinsab qrib xulxin u mhux imxerred mal-erbat irjieħ tal-alfabett. Hekk jispikkaw aktar id-differenzi fit-tifsir, li xi drabi jistgħu jkunu sottili. Bit-tqassim alfabetiku, kliem bħal ċaqċaq, għadma, sinsla, skeletru u qarquċa jkun imferrex taħt erba’ ittri differenti filwaqt li f’dan it-teżawru jinsab miġbur flimkien u għalhekk hemm probabbiltà akbar li l-fittiex isib dak li jkun qed ifittex. Teżawru bħal dan huwa effettiv l-aktar għaliex iqegħedlek il-kliem fuq il-ponta ta’ lsienek, lest biex tużah. Mhux biss jgħin lil min irid jikkomunika jagħżel liema hi l-aktar kelma li tixraq fil-kuntest, iżda jiffaċilita wkoll il-proċess biex il-fittiex isib xi kelma li jeħtieġha u li għandu mnejn lanqas biss ikun jaf li teżisti.; It-Teżawru huwa mqassam f’dawn it-temi: 1. Il-familja u l-ħbieb, 2. Il-ġisem u l-kura tiegħu, 3. Id-deskrizzjoni fiżika, 4. Id-deskrizzjoni tal-karattru,5. Is-sentimenti u l-emozzjonijiet, 6. Il-fażijiet tal-ħajja

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z Vassallo, Mario Thomas Borg, Kurt Fabri, Ray https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148204 2026-07-23T07:22:04Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Il-Malti f’politika lingwistika nazzjonali [Towards a national language policy for Malta] Authors: Vassallo, Mario Thomas; Borg, Kurt; Fabri, Ray Abstract: Dawn li għandkom f’idejkom huma l-atti tar-raba’ konferenza fi ħdan is-sensiela Lingua-Politik li ttellgħet b’suċċess bejn l-2022 u l-2025 b’kordinament bejn id-Dipartiment tal-Istudji Politiċi u l-Governanza u d-Dipartiment tal-Malti fi ħdan l-Università ta’ Malta. Din l-avventura konġunta, biex neżaminaw ir-rabta bejn id-dinja tal-politika u l-qawwa tal-letteratura u l-lingwa, bdejnieha fit-30 t’April 2022 meta fil-Parlament ta’ Malta organizzajna l-ewwel konferenza bit-tema ‘Il-Poter tal-Kelma: Politika u Letteratura f’Oliver Friggieri’. Sena wara, eżattament fit-22 t’April 2023, erġajna għaqqadna l-forzi tagħna biex stħarriġna r-retorika politika; is-saħħa li għandha l-kelma biex tħeġġeġ lin-nies u toffri viżjoni, inkella biex timmanipula u tiddottrina. It-tielet appuntament wasal fis-27 t’April 2024 meta għadd ta’ esperti interpretaw id-diversi ħsus politiċi li joħorġu minn xogħlijiet letterarji Maltin u internazzjonali waqt konferenza pubblika bit-tema, ‘In-Niggieża tal-Kelma: il-Proża Politika’. [silta mid-Daħla]

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Vassallo, Mario Thomas https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148203 2026-07-23T07:21:01Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Daħla [Il-Malti f’politika lingwistika nazzjonali] Authors: Vassallo, Mario Thomas Abstract: Dawn li għandkom f’idejkom huma l-atti tar-raba’ konferenza fi ħdan is-sensiela Lingua-Politik li ttellgħet b’suċċess bejn l-2022 u l-2025 b’kordinament bejn id-Dipartiment tal-Istudji Politiċi u l-Governanza u d-Dipartiment tal-Malti fi ħdan l-Università ta’ Malta. Din l-avventura konġunta, biex neżaminaw ir-rabta bejn id-dinja tal-politika u l-qawwa tal-letteratura u l-lingwa, bdejnieha fit-30 t’April 2022 meta fil-Parlament ta’ Malta organizzajna l-ewwel konferenza bit-tema ‘Il-Poter tal-Kelma: Politika u Letteratura f’Oliver Friggieri’. Sena wara, eżattament fit-22 t’April 2023, erġajna għaqqadna l-forzi tagħna biex stħarriġna r-retorika politika; is-saħħa li għandha l-kelma biex tħeġġeġ lin-nies u toffri viżjoni, inkella biex timmanipula u tiddottrina. It-tielet appuntament wasal fis-27 t’April 2024 meta għadd ta’ esperti interpretaw id-diversi ħsus politiċi li joħorġu minn xogħlijiet letterarji Maltin u internazzjonali waqt konferenza pubblika bit-tema, ‘In-Niggieża tal-Kelma: il-Proża Politika’.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z