Preservation of Maltese Culture and Language in the United KingdomAuthor: Rev. Victor J. Camilleri O.F.M. (on behalf of the absentee Karmena Mikallef Buhagiar) Question 1: What is being done to keep alive Maltese traditions: festas, food, language?1.1 Ever since the Maltese travelled to the U.K. and brought up their families, there have been various types of religious and social events organised for the Maltese Community in areas where small settlements of Maltese resided. 1.2 The aims of these events would always be towards highlighting memories of Maltese cultural episodes brought along from Malta and made alive among the members of the immigrant community, even if this would be organised in a limited way and on a very small scale. 1.3 The Maltese festas, normally held back home on a parish basis, are not possible to be organised on the same scales as in Malta. In particular, to date it has never been possible to hold a Malta-type festa in an open air environment. This is due to a lack of co-ordinated efforts within the community and because of the required local authority and police permissions to enable restrictions of the usual busy traffic in public roads and grounds to be rescinded. 1.4 Until the present time, any of these events have been held within enclosed venues such as in churches, halls, schools, hotels and other restricted buildings. 1.5 It is noted, however, that other immigrant communities do in fact come together to organise their events outdoors. For example, the West Indian Carnival at Notting Hill has become an annual institutionalised feature for the Caribbeans in the U.K.; the Asian communities also hold their Mela festivals and Diwali festivities every year. The Filipinos hold their Barrio Fiesta in many open parks throughout London. 1.6 The success of these festivals comes from the fact that the above communities are quite large in number and often the people reside together in concentrated areas. In the east end of London, the Brick Lane area is now known as Bangla Town. In Soho there is still China Town and the Chinese New Year is held in the streets of those surroundings. 1.7 By comparison, the Maltese Community is very dispersed and it would take a concerted effort to bring the people together to hold a festa. But all is not impossible since permissions are given quite readily for open air celebrations in the inner cities where there are multicultural communities. 1.8 In spite of the limitations expressed above, the Maltese people still have a way of making the best of what they can, even in restricted situations. The festa will always include Maltese traditional food, usually home-cooked, to ensure that a complete Maltese environment is created. Occasions like these often give an opportunity for people to exchange chit-chat in the Maltese language. "Once a Maltese, always a Maltese", even if on other days of their normal life they appear to merge with the host community in the British society. 1.9 The organisations who are known to have been involved in bringing together the Maltese members of the community over the years are the Maltese Mission (previously known as the Malta Catholic Centre), the Association of the Maltese Communities of Egypt, the Malta League, the Maltese Movement, the Malta Labour Party (U.K. Branch), and the newly created Maltese Culture Movement. The national festivities of Malta are now being held regularly and with a higher standard than in the past. It is envisaged that the situation will improve considerably as the Maltese that remain in the U.K. are becoming more community minded in the response to invitations by event organisers. 1.10 Although the English language is used as the common means of colloquial communication during most public functions, yet there are many who make it their point to include the Maltese language at some stage. This is normally received with utmost pleasure and enthusiasm by those who understand the language, while it becomes an awareness exercise for those who do not. The aim is to ensure that the Maltese language is not given a second place, wherever possible. Question 2: How much is the Maltese language still being used?2.1 The people of Malta, whether born there or overseas, seem to have a special element in their blood system that forms a brain which is receptive to many languages. Many are those who speak several languages quite easily and without having undergone special courses to learn these languages. It is of particular marvel that the Maltese who lived in North Africa were able to speak fluently in Maltese, Italian, French or English, and Arabic languages. Even those who are labelled as "illiterate" and cannot either read or write, have no difficulty in communicating in a language other than Maltese. 2.2 In the families, however, there can be found a problem which is also linked to the generation gap which is often referred to in our modern age. This may become a serious issue when parents realise that their children are unable o speak to them in Maltese. It is incomprehensible to discover that, while other children of immigrants like Chinese, Asians, Italians, Somalis and others learn to speak their mother language both at home and at community functions, the Maltese children fail to acquire sufficient knowledge or ability to communicate back with their parents at home using the Maltese language. 2.3 Again, because of almost complete integration with the British system, the Maltese youngsters refrain from any attempts to speak Maltese among themselves in the same family. Brothers and sisters, cousins and friends find it a lot easier and fluent to use English rather than Maltese. 2.4 In the church, the Maltese chaplains would prefer to deliver their sermons and services in Maltese. Originally all church functions were held in that language, then the congregations shrunk to only a handful of worshippers, and these were merely the adults who could follow in the proceedings. 2.5 In the present practice, church services have to be conducted in both English and Maltese for the benefit of the whole congregation. The result is that the number of attendees is on the increase and extremely encouraging. Whereas already some chaplains had indicated to the people in the recent past that services may have had to be discontinued because of little attendance, now the picture has changed and it is believed that the inclusion of the English language is paramount in the present running of the Maltese Chaplaincy. 2.6 Some prominent places where one can hear the Maltese language being spoken fully and comprehensively is in the Maltese cafes and clubs. These are usually male dominated and used as places of leisure by Maltese men who want to share their experiences. There one can also witness a typical Maltese environment, with people talking loudly, and all at once, using high spirited arguments on trivial subjects, and often one gets an impression that an upheaval is imminent. But it does not come to this in the end, simply because this is only a Maltese way of socialising. The main element of importance is that the only language used in these places is Maltese. Question 3: Is the Maltese language a help or a hindrance?3.1 In short, the answer is both. As in other multi-ethnic communities in a country where they immigrate, the insistence of speaking the mother language can be a means of solace and support for people of the same race to meet and exchange their views or gossip in the language they know best. This helps the first generation Maltese immigrants feel more at home and secure in a foreign country. On the other hand, their children can be affected adversely and rendered inadequate to move forward effectively if insistence is placed on them to speak their mother-tongue at all times and restrict them from integrating into the adopted society. In this sense, the mother language can become a hindrance. 3.2 On a limited scale there are many requests from parents to see their children grow up as bilingual. In truth, there are no facilities to achieve this outside the family environment. On similar lines, intermarriages between couples of different language backgrounds often generate lack of understanding between the two spouses. It has been the case with many, where a spouse wished to learn the partner’s language in order to enhance their marital relationship. If provided, this would certainly make a happier marriage. Question 4: Are T.V. and radio being made use of and to what extent?4.1 In the U.K. there is not much of media coverage as far as Maltese television, as yet. But the availability of the internet in many homes has brought about more scope and even coverage which is accessible through websites and webcasts. Obviously, Maltese Television can be viewed if one can afford to see it through a computer facility. 4.2 The Maltese radio stations are certainly more easily tuned if one has an adequate set. Again, the internet transmits very clear broadcasts from Malta for whoever is interested in tuning them in. Question 5: Are books in Maltese and about Malta reaching the Maltese migrants?5.1 Maltese books are available in limitation, but there is a lot to be desired, as it is left for the individual to make use of what is available. One notices that the Maltese mainly choose Malta as a holiday destination. This should give them an opportunity to read local newspapers or other literature while they are on holiday. Many are those who retain correspondence with their families in Malta using the Maltese language by telephone or by letters. In general, if more books are made available, the present community organisations can be urged to distribute Maltese literature among their people. Question 6: What is expected from the Malta side to help in this respect?6.1 Having taken into consideration all that has been related above with regard to language problems and needs of the Maltese immigrant community in the U.K., the main issue that can be referred to the Maltese Government is that of mother-tongue teaching. For many years in the U.K., the second language speakers of other ethnic minority groups have secured funding from their own governments as well as from local education authorities in constant efforts to provide mother-tongue teaching to children, thereby reducing the generation gap problems as far as possible. Adults too have the opportunity to gain access to a new language if they so wish. Would the Maltese authorities, then be prepared to assist in this matter? 6.2 One suggestion to enable the startup of a scheme with language provision for the Maltese youngsters would be to secure a teacher in the Maltese language from Malta for a London-based classroom which can be organised by an existing suitable organisation. The venue and publicity can be handled locally while a qualified teacher can be sent from Malta with assistance from the Government. 6.3 Finally, it would be of essential assistance to all those working overseas with Maltese migrants to be sent copies of literature from Malta for distribution among the community members. In our opinion, a liaison can be created between the Government and some publishers in Malta whereby publications can be forwarded and channelled through to the Maltese community leaders working in the field.
    
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