https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/8765 2026-11-01T05:19:20Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150077 Title: From Ḋamma to Ġabra : four centuries of Maltese lexicography Authors: Spagnol, Michael; Camilleri, John J.; Ellul, Dwayne Abstract: This paper presents a historical and typological overview of Maltese lexicography, tracing the development of lexical resources from the earliest manuscript dictionaries to recent digital initiatives. It surveys major multilingual, bilingual, monolingual and specialised dictionaries while discussing the methodologies underlying Maltese lexicography over the years. Emphasis is given to the interaction between the hybrid lexical structure of Maltese and lexicographic practice, including issues of lemmatisation, orthography and dictionary structure. The paper also discusses recent digital initiatives, particularly Ġabra and Dizzjunarju.mt, which illustrate the growing role of computational methods in Maltese lexicography. 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149967 Title: How a Greek river shattered Maltese dreams (and those of a governor) in 1826 Abstract: Charles James Napier, Governor of Cephalonia between 1822 and 1830, had decided in 1826 to improve Cephalonian agriculture by importing a colony of Maltese farmers “because their well-known industry and skill would inspire the lazy and indifferent Cephalonians to exploit properly their agricultural resources.” and because there could “be no doubt that the best thing for the [Cephalonia] poor was the establishment of the Maltese colony”. Basically, “in Cephalonia, for example, land and labor were available but the farmers were hampered by a lack of knowledge and tools”. [excerpt] 2026-10-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149736 Title: Riħ ħażin u l-poplu Għawdxi Authors: Grima, Adrian Abstract: F’dan l-ewwel rumanz li kitbu fl-1960 u ppubblikah għaxar snin wara, Ġorġ Scicluna jinqeda bil-lingwaġġ letterarju tattradizzjoni Romantika Maltija biex jagħti prominenza lill-ġrajja tal-Għawdxin fi żmien il-ħakma Franċiża. Il-lingwa konxjament idjomatika li juża tixħet l-attenzjoni fuq il-ġrajja kollettiva li jirrakkonta u l-għeruq fondi tal-komunità u fl-istess ħin tagħti dinjità lill-poplu Għawdxi. Waqt li jwassal il-fatti storiċi ewlenin lill-qarrejja tiegħu, ir-rumanzier jipproponi interpretazzjoni ta’ dik il-ġrajja, li l-protagonista jsejħilha “riefnu li nefaħ fuq artna” (Scicluna 370), billi jagħti prominenza lil ċerti personaġġi u l-kwalitajiet umani tagħhom bħala xempji ta’ dik li għalih hija komunità kulturalment omoġenja u kburija biha nfisha minkejja ċ-ċokon tagħha. [silta] 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149048 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