L-użu tal-Malti fostna : is-sitwazzjoni lokali

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.