https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/135348 2026-07-22T11:46:13Z 2026-07-22T11:46:13Z Vassallo, Mario Thomas https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148201 2026-07-22T10:59:19Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: It-tfassil tal-politika : kollox jibda minn aġenda li titla’ fil-wiċċ u mir-rieda tal-politiku Authors: Vassallo, Mario Thomas Abstract: Il-Malti, bħat-Taljan, ma jiddistingwix kif jagħmel l-Ingliż bejn politics u policy. Tal-ewwel, essenzjalment, tfisser l-attivitajiet relatati mat-teħid ta’ deċiżjonijiet fi gruppi u li għandhom x’jaqsmu mal-mod ta’ kif jitmexxa dak il-grupp u r-riżorsi tiegħu. Għalhekk, il-politika tiffoka fuq ir-relazzjonijiet ta’ poter bejn dawn ix-xirkiet u kif xirka taffettwa lill-oħra inkluż, iżda mhux limitat, it-taqtigħa għall-poter bejn ilpartiti. Dan kollu, fl-istudju tax-xjenza politika, huwa diskuss fuq livell nazzjonali jew sopranazzjonali. It-tieni, policy, tirreferi għad-direzzjoni li tiggwida d-deċiżjonijiet u l-azzjonijiet ta’ dawn il-gruppi. Meta nitkellmu dwar public policy inkunu qegħdin nirreferu għal dawk id-deċiżjonijiet, azzjonijiet jew nuqqas ta’ deċiżjonijiet u azzjonijiet tal-Gvern. Dan jinvolvi proċessi li jinkludu diversi stadji fit-tfassil, l-approvazzjoni tal-pjanijiet, l-implimentazzjoni u l-evalwazzjoni tal-istrateġiji tal- Gvern. It-tnejn li huma jitfgħu dawl fuq it-tip ta’ governanza li tintuża biex jitmexxa pajjiż. L-ilsien Malti, bħal dak Taljan, juża l-kelma ‘politika’ fiż-żewġ każijiet. Il-plural ta’ politika fil-każ ta’ policy huwa politiki (Vassallo, 2021: 33); Prof. Vassallo opened the conference with a conceptual session by addressing a semantic ambiguity that often clouds local discourse. He noted that the Maltese word politika encompasses two distinct English concepts: politics and policy.; • Politics refers to ideological power relations, the struggle for authority, and the partisan manoeuvring that characterises election cycles.; • Policy refers to the structured direction, principles, and administrative decisions that guide governmental action to solve societal problems. Description: This record includes two versions of the article by Prof. Mario Thomas Vassallo; the original version in Maltese and a version in English

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Fabri, Ray https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148145 2026-07-21T08:54:39Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Il-politika lingwistika Authors: Fabri, Ray Abstract: X’inhi l-lingwa? : Il-lingwa għandha żewġ aspetti fundamentali li jikkaratterizzawha: l-aspett formali u l-aspett funzjonali. Mill-aspett formali, il-lingwa narawha bħala sistema konjittiva li tipproċessa elementi u strutturi mentali fuq livelli differenti: (a) il-ħsejjes (foni, fonemi) u t-tagħqid tagħhom, li nistudjawhom fil-fonetika u fil-fonoloġija; (b) il-binja tal-kelma u tas-sentenza, li nistudjawhom fil-morfoloġija u fis-sintassi, u li flimkien jibnu l-grammatika; u (ċ) it-tifsira u l-użu fil-kuntest, li nistudjawhom fis-semantika u fil-pragmatika. Mill-aspett funzjonali, nikkonsidraw il-lingwa bħala sistema komunikattiva u soċjali li tikkodifika u tittrażmetti l-ħsibijiet, l-emozzjonijiet, il-kultura, l-istorja, it-tradizzjonijiet u, fuq kollox, l-identità tal-individwi li jużawha, jiġifieri l-kelliema, is-signers1 u l-kittieba. Hemm rabta intima bejn il-lingwa, l-individwu, u s-soċjetà: Il-lingwa hija ħolqa f’katina li torbot individwu ma’ ieħor li biha l-individwu jħoss li huwa parti integrali mill-komunità li jgħix fiha; il-lingwa hija l-bażi ta’ kull attività tal-bniedem: soċjali, kulturali, ekonomika, eċċ.; Prof. Fabri provided the definitions required to navigate the conference's theme. He viewed language through dual lenses: as a formal cognitive system (involving phonology, syntax, and semantics) and as a functional social tool (encoding culture, history, and identity). In the context of globalisation and Malta’s rapid demographic shifts, he argued that a laissez-faire approach is insufficient; deliberate policy is required to protect the national language. Description: This record includes two versions of the article by Prof. Ray Fabri; the original version in Maltese and a version in English

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Pace, Thomas https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148144 2026-07-21T08:46:40Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: X’qed jagħmlu pajjiżi oħrajn fil-qasam tal-politika u l-ippjanar tal-lingwa Authors: Pace, Thomas Abstract: Biex infasslu strateġija effettiva għall-ilsien nazzjonali jiswielna jekk nagħtu ħarsa lejn il-ħidma ta’ pajjiżi jew reġjuni oħrajn u lejn l-istrateġiji lingwistiċi li jadottaw fuq bażi nazzjonali jew reġjonali. L-aġenti tal-lingwa li jfasslu dawn id-dokumenti jkunu ħasbu sew fuq kif jistgħu jġibu l-lingwa tagħhom ’il quddiem u jiżviluppawha fl-aktar oqsma importanti tal-ħajja.; Thomas Pace presented a comparative analysis, arguing that studying other jurisdictions helps policymakers understand how to promote language across key domains like administration, education, and media. However, he cautioned that comparisons must be contextual: Malta’s official bilingualism (Maltese and English) and its status as a small island state create a unique "linguistic ecology" different from large monolingual nations like France or Germany. Description: This record includes two versions of the article by Mr. Thomas Pace; the original version in Maltese and a version in English.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Bellia, Marija https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148143 2026-07-21T08:41:49Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: L-użu tal-Malti fostna : is-sitwazzjoni lokali Authors: Bellia, Marija Abstract: L-ewwel studji marbutin mal-użu u l-preferenzi tal-lingwa saru l-ewwel fiddisgħinijiet, u, minkejja dawk li forsi nistgħu naħsbu jew nisimgħu dwaru, tista’ tgħid li x-xejriet ewlenin tagħhom ma nbidlux wisq – il-Malti kien u għadu l-iktar lingwa mitkellma fl-ambjent tad-dar.; Se nagħtu ħarsa lejn erba’ sorsi ta’ statistika miksuba fl-aħħar snin.; Id-data miġbura miċ-ċensiment li sar mill-NSO fl-2021 uriet li l-Malti għadu l-iktar lingwa mitkellma fl-ambjent tad-dar (Uffiċċ ju Nazzjonali tal-Istatistika, 2022). L-aħħar ċensiment xeħet dawl ukoll fuq it-tendenzi lingwistiċi tat-tfal b’mod ġenerali. Ħareġ li kwart tat-tfal li għandhom inqas minn 10 snin u 15% ta’ dawk li għandhom bejn 10 snin u 19-il sena jqisu l-Ingliż bħala l-lingwa ewlenija tagħhom. It-tfal li huma ikbar minn 5 snin u jitkellmu bl-Ingliż jgħixu l-iktar is-Swieqi (38%), Tas-Sliema u San Ġiljan (ftit iktar minn 25%), u l-Imdina (24%).; Bellia challenged the common perception that English is rapidly overtaking Maltese by presenting a data-driven analysis. Drawing from national census data and original sociolinguistic research, she demonstrated that Maltese remains the dominant language in the home environment for the vast majority of the population, though specific cracks are appearing in the demographic bedrock.; Detailed Findings and Statistics:; • Census 2021; ◦ While Maltese dominates generally, there is a sharp generational shift. 25% (one-quarter) of children under the age of 10 now consider English their main language.; ◦ Among adolescents aged 10–19, this figure is 15%.; ◦ Geographic variance: This shift is not uniform. It is heavily concentrated in the "Northern Harbour" district, specifically in towns like Swieqi, Sliema, and St Julian’s, where English often functions as the community vernacular. Description: This record includes two versions of the article by Ms. Marija Bellia; the original version in Maltese and a version in English.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z