An introduction to the history of the language and literature of Malta

Abstract

The article delves into the complex question of what essentially constitutes the cultural identity of the Mediterranean island of Malta. It takes into consideration the way the Maltese language, derived from Arabic, has naturally absorbed so many forms of influences and forged them into something unique. The literary history of Malta is likewise analysed as a complex result of diverse influences which have met in Malta, a sort of melting pot wherein various characteristics have been transformed into something typically Maltese. The conclusions proposed in this article are the result of the author's long years of research dedicated to the systematic reconstruction of the literary history of Malta.