Languages of Malta facts for kids
Malta is a small island country with a rich history. It has two official languages: Maltese and English. Maltese is also the country's national language, which means it's super important to Malta's identity. Many people in Malta can speak other languages too, especially English and Italian.
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Malta's Languages: A Quick Look
For a long time, Italian was also an official language in Malta, right up until 1934. This shows how Malta's history has been shaped by different cultures. Today, most people living in Malta can speak languages that aren't their native tongue, mainly English and Italian.
How Many People Speak Each Language?
A big survey called Eurobarometer was done in 2012. It found that almost everyone in Malta (98%) can speak Maltese. A large number (88%) can speak English, and a good portion (66%) can speak Italian. More than 17% of people can also speak French.
Let's compare this to an older survey from 1995:
- In 1995, 98% spoke Maltese (same as 2012).
- 76% spoke English (less than 2012).
- Only 36% spoke Italian (much less than 2012).
- 10% spoke French (less than 2012).
It's interesting to see that more people speak English and Italian now! Even though Italian isn't an official language anymore, many people still learn it. This is partly because they can watch Italian TV shows in Malta, which helps them practice and learn the language.
Languages in Schools
An official count of people, called a census, was done in 2011. It looked at people aged 10 and older. Out of nearly 378,000 people, about 357,000 (94.7%) said they could speak Maltese at least at an average level. About 248,000 people (82.1%) said they could speak English well or at an average level.
Besides Maltese and English, other important languages taught in secondary schools and at university (called tertiary education) include French, Russian, Spanish, and German. This helps young people in Malta connect with the wider world.
Images for kids
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A Latin inscription from 1649 at Saint Agatha's Tower.
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A Maltese welcome sign to the village of Ħal Lija, making use of the letter Ħ, unique to Maltese. Suavi fructo rubeo is a Latin motto, meaning "I glow red with sweet fruit", referring to the many orange orchards present in the village.
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Bilingual danger sign at Comino in both Maltese and English
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Italian-language loading bill of the English steamship "Allegra", 1871 owned by Fratelli Agius, transporting cattle from Benghazi, Libya to Malta.
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Italian inscription from the former Ġnien tal-Kmand at Żabbar. This inscription dates back from the early 19th century, when Malta was a British protectorate.
