Maltese literary critic and language academic Charles Briffa passed away on Saturday. He was 73.
Briffa started his teaching career with Stella Maris College and then he became a state school-teacher after obtaining his PGCE. He taught all levels from primary to tertiary, and his subjects were English, Maltese, Arabic, and Systems of Knowledge.
He studied at the University of Malta and at Oklahoma State University, obtaining his B.A. (Hons) and M.A. in English, a postgraduate diploma in the teaching of Arabic, and Ph.D. in Maltese.
Briffa lectured on Maltese Literature and Literary Criticism, and at postgraduate level on Translation and on Maltese authors with the University of the Third Age.
In 1986, Briffa became an academic member of the Akkademja tal-Malti and after being a council member since 1992 and serving on the editorial board and on the commission on the Maltese Language he became President of the Akkademja tal-Malti (2000-2004) and, from 2005-2008, a member of the National Council for the Maltese Language.