I love the Maltese language, yet, I am no “Gozo-fanatic”, nor am I in any way a “dialect-fetishist”: therefore, I feel irritated by Daphne Caruana Galizia’s way of describing the “Dialect-fest” to be held by Munxar local council (Cocaine and gonorrhoea – but please, no divorce, TMID, 28 August). This is a celebration of Gozitan dialects. And we, who study languages (and not just the Maltese language, may I add!) know how important dialects are.

Even the EU does its best to encourage the use of dialects, in its promotion of cultural diversity. This can be seen both in the various EC regulations that treat the subject, as well as the frequent discussions and statements put before the EP.

So, returning to Daphne... she’s quite an enigma, to me. She can write so well, and she can write on issues which are very important and which are quite high on the agenda, for average citizens, such as myself.

However, as happens with all columnists, I suppose that there are times when she absolutely has nothing to write about. Some of her writings are far from being “factual discussions” but outright disgusting, insulting and demeaning!

I don’t think that Daphne really has a clue regarding the Maltese language – much less the culture of dialects. Far from being, as Daphne calls it, a “sort of minutiae of introspection”, such a celebration of dialects is heartening to those who love Maltese and Gozitan culture. Nearly every village in Malta has its own dialect, and believe me, Daphne, that has nothing to do with “isolation or relative isolation”. It has to do with the history and culture of that particular town or village.

In the same article I am criticising, she writes: “some people ... don’t seem to realise how out of touch with reality they are...!” The very fact that Daphne is curious to know “how different the dialect of one village can possibly be from the dialect of another” really shows, goodness me, how ignorant she is of Maltese life! Now let’s see who is living “in isolation” in this country!

In her article, then, she continues waffling her way as if she were a bull in a china shop, and suggests what these dialects could be. With what right does she downplay and criticise such dialects if she has never had real experience in such contexts?

I really have come to believe that Daphne hates this country and all who live here. Well, especially now that we are members of the European Union, it’s quite easy for her to solve that problem.

No?

Franco Farrugia

Pieta