https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/8765 2026-09-21T09:42:07Z 2026-09-21T09:42:07Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149048 2026-09-11T11:05:43Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Meta l-lingwa toħloq komunità Abstract: Diskors fl-Okkażjoni tat-8 ta’ Settembru, 2026 mill-Prof. Adrian Grima, Kap tad-Dipartiment tal-Malti fl-Università ta’ Malta. Id-diskors jenfasizza r-rwol tal-Malti fil-ħolqien ta’ komunità u identità nazzjonali. Prof. Grima jibda bi storja personali dwar in-nannu tiegħu matul it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija biex juri kif il-lingwa torbot il-ġenerazzjonijiet. Hu jiddiskuti l-iżvilupp tal-Malti bħala lsien nazzjonali, l-isfidi soċjolingwistiċi tal-lum u jwissi dwar it-tnaqqis possibbli tal-ilsien nazzjonali jekk il-Maltin ma jkomplux jużawh fid-dar. Jappella għal politika lingwistika serja, investiment fil-kontenut diġitali bil-Malti, u impenn nazzjonali biex il-Malti jibqa’ ħaj bħala lsien komuni li jgħaqqad lil kulħadd.; Speech on the occasion of the 8th of September, 2026, by Prof. Adrian Grima, Head of the Department of Maltese at the University of Malta. The speech highlights the central role of the Maltese language in shaping community and national identity. Prof. Grima begins with a family story from World War II to illustrate how language connects generations. He discusses Maltese as a national language, the current sociolinguistic challenges and warns that Maltese may decline if not spoken consistently at home. He calls for a strong national language policy, investment in Maltese digital content, and collective responsibility to ensure Maltese remains a living, shared language that unites the nation.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Grima, Adrian https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149045 2026-09-11T10:48:18Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Becoming Concetta Brincat Authors: Grima, Adrian Abstract: Born in 1870, in the area of Laqxija, Birkirkara, to parents who did not receive any formal education and were unable to read and write, Concetta Brincat became the first known female novelist writing in Maltese. She finished her novel set in the time of the French Revolution of 1789, Il-Familja de Valereux, jew Louis Mitluf ġewwa l-Bosk, in 1919, and her second novel, Is- Saħħara Nerelis, in 1922, a story set in the time of the Emperor Nero and his persecution of the Christians. [excerpt]

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z 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