OAR@UM Collection:

Maltese surnames : the Sicilian and Italian connections

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Maltese surnames : the Sicilian and Italian connections Abstract: For the purposes of this thesis, a surname is defined as a legal identification tag as well as a hereditary name borne by the members of a single family and handed down from one generation to another. Hereditary surnames did not become fixed overnight. In fact, in many European records from the 11th to the 14th century it is impossible to be certain whether a surname is hereditary, or merely a distinguishing epithet. The custom of surname-giving, even ir. Malta, was mainly motivated by the emergence of new administrative practices inherent ir. the medieval feudal system. As societies became more complex, and as such matters as the management of tenure and in particular the collection of taxes were delegated to special functionaries, it became imperative to have a more complex system of nomenclature to distinguish one individual from another in a reliable and unambiguous manner. Otherwise, were a person conspicuous enough there would be no need for a surname. The aim throughout the present work has been to give a sound basis to the study of family names which directly or indirectly link the Maltese Islands with Sicily and mainland Italy since the Middle Ages. Not all surnames under discussion are necessarily found in modern-day Sicily or Italy. For example, some Spanish surnames are simply included due to the long and influential Aragonese presence in the Sicilian Kingdom. Others found their way in because they happen to follow Italian morphological patterns (e.g. Pantalleresco < French Pantalleresque) or reflect phonetic equivalence (e.g. Fero < French Feraud). This massive input of surnames has translated itself into an overwhelming case of demographic and cultural symbiosis. In this dissertation, I chose to adopt a multidisciplinary approach, blending historical and statistical data with linguistic aspects such as etymology, philology and typology, in the endeavour to achieve a certain degree of analytical balance. I cannot, and do not, claim to have satisfactorily explained the meaning and origin of all the surnames under discussion. However, I have made a critical use of all the data available at the time of writing. The vast majority of the statements put forward throughout this work are backed by academic research; when no sources are provided, personal opinion is in the offing. Although this dissertation focuses on extant surnames, extinct ones will not be ignored, especially if they provide interesting insights. A number of surnames in this thesis have never been researched before. Some meanings (and origins) will remain elusive, or inadequately explained. Accounts of the origins of many individual surnames, in the present state of our knowledge, contain an element of tentativeness - some are more tentative than others. Whenever it is possible on reliable grounds, I resort to conjecture, albeit cautiously. Description: PH.D.

Insects of commercial value in Maltese culture and tradition

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Insects of commercial value in Maltese culture and tradition Abstract: This dissertation is an interdisciplinary study consisting of an historical, cultural and anthropological account of a number of insects of commercial value in the Maltese islands. It gives new insights into the role of these organisms in the life of the Maltese throughout the ages. The species treated in this study arc the honey bee (Apis mellifera), the silkworm (Bombyx mori), the eri silkworm (Philosamia ricini) and several species of insects used as natural enemies of insect pests. Up to the end of the World War II biological and physical control were the most important means of agricultural pest control. Before the war a number of insects were imported to control introduced and established pest species. Biological control lost its value after the war with the introduction of organochlorine pesticides. These chemicals were effective at killing pests but they also decimated the pests’ natural enemies. Without the biological control agents the number of pests increased with the obvious consequence of more damage to the crops. The honey bee has been playing an important role in Maltese culture for at least 2,000 years. This can be seen from the number of old apiaries found in the Maltese islands and place nan1es derived from the Maltese words for bees, honey, wax and apiaries. The honey bee has an important role as a main pollinator of agricultural crops and as a source of honey and other products. Silkworms have played a role in Maltese culture as there have been several attempts to introduce sericulture in the Maltese islands during the past 250 years. None of these attempts proved profitable enough and all were abandoned after a short while. The biggest attempt was made in the 1820s by the British, Irish and Continental Silk Company but despite the support given by the British authorities this project like the others was not successful and was terminated after some years. Insects will continue to play an important role in the life of the Maltese and more awareness should be raised about their value as pollinators and biological control agents. Description: M.MALTESE STUD.

Secularism in Malta : civil and religious tensions

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Secularism in Malta : civil and religious tensions Abstract: This dissertation aims to investigate the idea of secularism and Church-State relations within the Maltese context. The focus of this study is to provide an understanding of contemporary tensions arising from these relations. In order to do so, the historical context as well as the Catholic Church's view as presented in Vatican II have been taken into consideration to better understand the present situation and to provide perspective, depth and background. This work was carried out between March 2010 and June 2011 and is the result of library, newspaper and electronic research, personal interviews and an analysis of material investigated. I have done my best to provide requisite references to the sources used. I am neither a historian, nor a political scientist, nor a theologian. However, as I consider a discussion on secularism to be of urgent and paramount importance to present-day Malta, I have decided to focus on this sped fir. issue with a view of better understanding the various implications involved. I merely hope l will be able to provide an initial explanation and discussion of the themes in question. This could serve as the beginning of a challenging debate on topics that maybe are all too frequently taken for granted. Such topics could start being discussed in greater depth and with greater moral, social and political responsibility in the near future, by retaining an idea of the contributions of the past and recording the pulse of the present. Description: M.MALTESE STUD.

Maltese legends : a reflection of Maltese identity

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Maltese legends : a reflection of Maltese identity Abstract: This dissertation seeks to study the essential foundation of Maltese legends. It aims to uncover how these legends reflect parts of a Maltese identity, and how they reflect the historical experience of a people. They shape, and in turn are shaped, by these experiences. The practices, beliefs and events that are the subject of the legend provide a rich source of insight into the way in which a people - in this case, the Maltese nation - lived and interpreted its history. The study will start by explaining the concepts of myth, legend and history; by describing what makes a national identity; and how legend, history and identity interact. It will then focus on the relationship between particular legends and the various elements of national identity - history, religion, superstition, contact with foreign cultures and social structures. It will examine how these elements find themselves embedded in the stories of the people. In today's era of globalization and technology, these legends which we have inherited continue to preserve their relevance as a window on the soul of a nation with a long and chequered history. This study will conclude by considering the continuing relevance of legends in an era of globalization which threatens to swamp national identities and replace them with the homogeneous culture of the dominant postmodern culture of the West. Description: M.MALTESE STUD.