User talk:Arnaldo Mauri

Welcome

Welcome!

Hello, Arnaldo Mauri, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thank you for your contributions. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages that you might find helpful:

I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! Please sign your messages on discussion pages using four tildes (~~~~); this will automatically insert your username and the date. If you need help, check out Wikipedia:Questions, ask me on my talk page, or ask your question on this page and then place {{helpme}} before the question. Again, welcome! 78.149.214.233 (talk) 13:56, 3 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Mixed languages

Hi, I see that you too, agree that Maltese is a mixed language. This view has been raised on the Maltese language article many times, referenced by numerous scholars, but several editors on the article oppose it. 78.149.214.233 (talk) 13:56, 3 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I am not an expert of languages, I am an economist. However I have visited few times Malta and my impression is of a language with two main historical sources semitic and latin. Furthermore many new terms come from English. A. Mauri. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Arnaldo Mauri (talk • contribs)

Well, many scholars claim Maltese is a mixed language because it follows the pattern of many other mixed languages: function words and grammar from one language (Siculo-Arabic in this case), and content words from another (Italian and Sicilian). Also, a mixed language forms in a population fluent in both parent languages (which Maltese did), contrasted with Pidgins, which form when two varilingual populations need to communicate with eachother. However, there is some grey area as to what consitutes a mixed language, so several other scholars discard the idea for Maltese.

English on the other hand, is extremely rarely regarded as "mixed". It's lexical replacement with French was not high enough. However, some consider English to be Creole.

In reality, both cases are not so clear cut. They neither fit neatly in their original genetic classifications, or in their dual-parentage classifications, as in fact sit on a continuum between the two, sharing features of the both.

Oh, and your comment about Maltese now incorporating much English lexicon - yes English is the fastest growing vocabulary source the language has ever known, but whether this is a linguistic convergence between the two, or whether their code-switching/potential relexification will give rise to an even more mixed Maltese, is as yet to be seen. Either way, the Maltese language has survived through incredibly strong influences before, and I have no doubt that it will remain standing through this next wave of linguistic input either. 78.149.180.98 (talk) 08:51, 7 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for your clear comments on the Maltese. As far as concern English, I have noted that the working English used by international agencies is abounding of latin-origin words. Arnaldo Mauri

Italy

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