Le componenti italiane nel lessico maltese

Abstract

It is an established fact that the Maltese language is made up of two major components; the Semitic element as the basic structure and the Romance element as the superstructure. Lexical items which have to do with remote notions, techniques, and expressions are usually related to the Arab period while relatively modern terms are synonymous with a more evolved state of affairs in the post medieval period. This study has taken into consideration two semantic areas: the agricultural and the architectural terminology. A large percentage of the terms adopted by the peasant are of a Semitic origin confirming that the roots of this industry are very ancient. On the contrary, the prevailing amount of the terms used by the builder are of a Romance origin, which leads to the conclusion that this sector was at its best in the period of the Knights. It has also been shown that the Maltese language makes use of different linguistic strategies such as hybrids and literal translations to fill lacunas that are caused by progress. This guarantees a constant updating of our language.