A key goal that I have done well maintaining throughout my study Malta is better understanding the complex political and cultural influences that have impacted the language and society, as a whole. I expressed in my original learning plan presentation that I wanted to learn about the history and I feel as if I have done this through research in English and the target language. As I study the Maltese language, I try to pick up on linguistic subtleties that connect the Maltese to the Italians, French, and Arabs. When I write out the vocabulary words in Maltese, I try to compare them to the Italian words that I know. I have found that there are a handful of cognates in Maltese and Italian, which is very interesting, but one challenge I did not foresee is the unpredictable nature of the language. For example, some vocabulary words are the near-same to French and Italian counterparts, but other words have completely unfamiliar roots and sounds. I believe this challenge stems from the fact that I have not studied Arabic, but hopefully, it is a skill that improves over time as I see more vocabulary.
In addition, the last blog post I wrote really inspired me to do a lot of research about the Maltese political system and economy. My classes this semester focus on international business issues and the economics of developing nations, so I tried to apply what I have learned towards an analysis of Malta. Beginning to research the HDI, GDP, and natural resources of the country led me to want to become more of an expert on the subject. In order to continue this theme and apply the subject with my language studies, I am going to focus this week’s vocabulary on geography and basic economic terms. Conducting this type of research was really interesting for me because it is relevant to my larger college studies.
At this point, I have focused a lot on studying basic phrases, vocabulary, and culture/history. One element that I think I can begin to focus more on is understanding the grammar of Maltese language through reading. One problem I have run into is contradicting basic grammar structures online The language is not widely spoken, therefore there are fewer resources than I expected for learning. I have been able to memorize certain phrases for basic communication and recognize vocabulary, but I think the missing link is truly understanding the syntax. As I write this post, I am considering that this week I should read basic texts about the geography of Malta. This would be extremely interesting for me, considering I traveled to all parts of the island and visited the capital city. In addition, I mentioned in my learning plan presentation that I wanted to be able to talk more knowledgeable about the places I visited in Malta last year. For the presentation, I envisioned pulling up some of the many beautiful pictures I took of the country and being able to describe the history behind each location.
As I have discussed, in order to strengthen my Maltese linguistic abilities, I need to make a strong effort in improving my abilities to put together sentences. After reviewing some of the original language exercises I outlined in my plan, I want to start applying the idea of reading interesting texts in the target language to learn faster. I am making it my priority this week to find a couple of unique writings (poetry or historical) that highlight the geography or political climate of Malta. At the start of the semester, I identified myself as a very tangible and visual learner, so I want to continue incorporating learning elements that are unique and keep up my interest.
Comments
I think it's so cool and inspiring how you are learning Maltese. After hearing a little about Malta I researched a little bit about it and found it to be so beautiful. I was so surprised to find that it is it's own small country with its own language which is probably why I haven't heard of it before. However, as an strategically placed island it has many different influences like you said from many countries. I would love to hear more about your visit to Malta!