Malta is one of those countries which is blessed with the fact that it is naturally and officially bi-lingual.  With both Maltese and English recognised as official languages, it is a reality which gives the Maltese people something special.

This also tends to create something of a conflict: while children learn both Maltese and English, many can argue that there is a tendency to give more importance to English - naturally, due to its global importance - over Maltese.

Yet Maltese remains the language which the people are inextricably linked to, besides also being linguistically unique as a Semitic language with European influences which uses the Latin alphabet.

Debates and topics come up every now and again on whether Malta is giving just importance to the Maltese language - with the greatest concerns largely being that sometimes there is a preference towards pushing English, rather than Maltese.

This week a Facebook page which promotes the use of the Maltese language criticised what it says is the near-total absence of Maltese signage at the Malta International Airport.

'Il-Malti Madwarna' is a page which encourages the use of the Maltese language in writing, especially in labels and signs. It has called for Maltese to be included and prioritised in new signage plans in the airport.

The page made reference to the €345 million investment of the airport that was announced last year, and stated that such Maltese signage should form part of the planned infrastructural expansion. 

The €345 million expansion is seen as an opportunity to correct a long-standing omission. Il-Malti Madwarna posits that public funds and national infrastructure should reflect national identity, especially since signage design is only a small fraction of the large investment.

"In the present airport, you can count on one hand the number of signs which contain Maltese," the Facebook post says. "Wherever you go in the airport, the signs are all in English and only English. This is not acceptable."

The post goes on to say that the Maltese language must be present in the airport because it is the right of Maltese and Gozitan citizens to see their language being used in their country, and that the Maltese language is an essential part of Maltese identity.

Importantly, the post is not anti-English. "The use of English is not a problem... that being said, it's not right that Maltese is left out," the post says. 

The group is right to say that this isn't a matter of being anti-English - but a matter of striking the right balance for both languages to co-exist together.  After all, it is quite normal for signage in bi-lingual countries to include both languages.

Countries such as Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Canada all embrace bi-lingualism in such a way that it is evident for all to see.  That is not to say that Malta doesn't embrace its bi-lingualism: but there is much more that can be done for it to be embraced even further.

Maltese signage at the Malta International Airport - the gateway for millions of tourist who, no doubt, are travelling to Malta at least in part to experience its unique culture - would be a step towards that.