In today's Malta Independent DCG analyses another survey gone weird. A recent survey indicated that a high percentage of the Maltese trust the government. Dahne argues that the problem in the survey is the language. In Maltese, she argues, the meaning of "to trust the government" is not the same as "to have faith in government". Unfortunately Daphne betrays a bit of lingusitic naivete when providing the Maltese translations to the two phrases. First of all she uses two words which have the same root (fidi - faith) and thus fails to show the Maltese distinction.
Secondly and more gravely (in the eyes of her critics) she falls in the trap of pepe' spelling. In fact the word "fiducja" (which is one of those ugly words of Italian origin so common among lawyers) is rendered "fidJucja" by Her Englishness. A petty mistake for sure but a heavy one commit by DCG. For you see DCG is seen as the typical Slimiza (Sliema girl) who has long foresaken her Maltese language for a language that resembles English.
It is a mistake that increases in weight when one remembers that in the not too distant past the word FIDUCJA was pasted on billboards across the country next to the homely face of Eddie Family Adami. It is a mistake that speaks volumes about the current frenzy of linguistic fervour surrounding the EURO. We could have two denominations - the EWRO for Zabbar and the South and the JUROW for Sliema, St Julians and Madliena.
So Daphne, I am afraid you will have to face a barrage of criticism on your spelling. Which is a pity really, because your argument made sense. But all too often in our country it's the sleaze that counts.
Warning: This is a post on a blog. This is not intended to be considered as journalism. Any similarity to journalism is purely unintentional and we regret the inconvenience caused.
Secondly and more gravely (in the eyes of her critics) she falls in the trap of pepe' spelling. In fact the word "fiducja" (which is one of those ugly words of Italian origin so common among lawyers) is rendered "fidJucja" by Her Englishness. A petty mistake for sure but a heavy one commit by DCG. For you see DCG is seen as the typical Slimiza (Sliema girl) who has long foresaken her Maltese language for a language that resembles English.
It is a mistake that increases in weight when one remembers that in the not too distant past the word FIDUCJA was pasted on billboards across the country next to the homely face of Eddie Family Adami. It is a mistake that speaks volumes about the current frenzy of linguistic fervour surrounding the EURO. We could have two denominations - the EWRO for Zabbar and the South and the JUROW for Sliema, St Julians and Madliena.
So Daphne, I am afraid you will have to face a barrage of criticism on your spelling. Which is a pity really, because your argument made sense. But all too often in our country it's the sleaze that counts.
Warning: This is a post on a blog. This is not intended to be considered as journalism. Any similarity to journalism is purely unintentional and we regret the inconvenience caused.
9 commentaires:
Hmm Jacques, I didn't think you were the type to need a Warning at the end of a blog entry.
Do you actually care what people may say?
It might have helped the strength of your attack on Daphne's spelling skills had you not written her name incorrectly in the first paragraph. Or is it possible that, like Daphne, you merely committed a typo? Casting the first stone comes to mind.
G: there is always a reason for everything. It might just be the case that you are not really understanding the reason for this one...
TJ: thanks for the comments and good luck with your blog. come back in 30 days and I will add your blog to the blogroll (a new criterion of consistency to avoid adding and removing blogs that are born for a week.)As for Daphne, I really do not see anything wrong with her having bad Maltese... we cannot blame people for their upbringing. My point was more that ppl will be prepared to pounce on her mistakes more easily than seeing the argument that she made.
vlad... i did see the typo later but did not bother changing it.With regard to Daphne may I point out that the D is four keys away from the J in a standard keyboard... and the U comes later...
FIDJUCJA is in fact a rendering of the pronunciation used by many anglophiles, just as the JUROW would be,... so in this case I ruled out the possibility of the typo.
Well j is near u, and it was capitalized, so... oh god, who cares...
And T.J., I was not actually criticising Deguara's spelling so the expression "cast the first stone" is not strictly relevant. I fear you have mixed "the wind with the lettuce", to quote Anthony Licari. But you are reading my blog, so it means you are showing some promise.
Zemp.
You missed the point. The jurow ewro proposal was in jest. Well done for the wholehearted defence of the Slimiza way of life. As for Daphne. I love most of her arguments. Most of the time. If you read carefully and without any Sliema patriotism in mind you will note that in the last paragraph I stressed that her argument makes sense. My intention was to point out that in Malta sleaze counts more than argument and that probably this would turn out to be the case in its instance.
And let's face it... her Sliema Slip was funny!
It is a mistake that increases in weight when one remembers that in the not too distant past the word FIDUCJA was pasted on billboards across the country next to the homely face of Eddie Family Adami.
1992. A full fourteen years ago. You're growing old, man.
My intention was to point out that in Malta sleaze counts more than argument
More sleaze and argument coming up on Triq il-Maqluba... couldn't resist it...
Sorry but I cannot agree on the very last point you made Zemp. I speak definite Pacevillian. Never ever will Jacques be a Sliema guy.
tenkjuverimuch
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