‘Gzira Slimiza f’nofs ocean hamalli’: Malta’s bilingual culture. translation and analysis of segments from Alex Vella Gera’s Is-sriep regghu saru velenuzi

Abstract

This dissertation centres around the cultural and social implications behind the translation of literature. The novel chosen for translation and analysis is Is-Sriep Regghu Saru Velenuzi (The Snakes Have Become Poisonous Yet Again) by the Brussels-based author and translator Alex Vella Gera. It is based on different periods of time ranging from the main character, Noel’s childhood to the present time when the author is writing. During the former, the reader becomes familiar with the political issues at that time through references made by the author such as leading political figures like ex-Prime Minister Dominic (Dom) Mintoff and ex-Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici who is referred to as ‘KMB’. On the other hand, in the present time of the novel, the reader comes across different social backgrounds, mainly the ‘tal-pepè’ and the ‘hamalli’ group. These are two stereotypes which are defined by various factors like language, the location and sometimes wealth. While the former group tends to be associated with people who live in the areas surrounding Sliema, who hold English as their first language and tend to be well-off, the latter is linked to people living in areas close to the Grand Harbour, who speak Maltese and tend to swear more often. As explained, these are only stereotypes which were created by the Maltese society itself, hence, they do not always reflect the actual reality in society. While the author brings out the difference between these two social groups, he presents more characters that are associated with the ‘tal-pepè’ group rather than the other way round such as Noel, Noel’s brother Simon and Noel’s childhood friend and later boss, Roger. Through their dialogues, Vella Gera shows the issue of language when there is the practice of code-swithing or literal translations of idiomatic expressions. The observation of these two groups is shown clearly in the title of this dissertation, ‘Gzira Slimiza f’nofs ocean ħamalli’ which would translate as ‘A Sliema island in the middle of an ocean of hamalli’. This metaphor not only captures the two stereotypical groups discussed above but it also captures the linguistic and social implications behind it. This is supported in the next part of the title, ‘Malta’s bilingual culture’. These three words portray the points being emphasised above that Malta’s culture is shaped by these two languages, their use and their effect on society. The issue of language is also present in the narration of the novel itself when the author chooses to write some titles in English and others in Maltese. In addition, despite being mostly in Maltese, there are times when the author chooses to narrate in English or simply combine both languages in the same paragraph.So, one should remember that the translation concerned here is not one simply based on words but one that has a rich cultural and social background and it is this background that shapes the language used by the characters mentioned above.