Language in Malta

Maltese is a distinct Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet. Its standardized spelling uses the letters ċ, ġ, għ, ħ and ż. The Maltese Language Act, Cap. 470, has governed language policy since 2005 and was amended in 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2021. The Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ilsien Malti develops spelling rules, terminology and new vocabulary and oversees their implementation. Maltese has a strong role in national identity, cultural continuity and literature. Since Malta joined the European Union in 2004, Maltese has been an official EU language, and English is also an official EU language. The Constitution of Malta recognizes Maltese as the national language and Maltese and English as official languages. People may address the public administration in either language and should receive a reply in the language they used. Public-service websites, forms, applications, signs and public information are generally provided bilingually. The administration and the People and Standards function oversee this language standard. Using Maltese or English in public services does not carry a general language fee, although particular services may have their own deadlines and translation arrangements. Maltese is the language of the courts. English may be used where parliamentary legislation permits it. A person who does not understand the court language can require court interpretation, while a non-Maltese affidavit generally needs translation into Maltese. The available rules do not establish one universal guarantee that private sworn interpretation will be free, so costs can depend on the proceeding and interpreter arrangement. Parliament determines its working languages through the House of Representatives. Education normally gives both Maltese and English a practical role. State schools are bilingual, with Maltese generally serving as the main teaching language apart from English lessons. Textbooks and learning materials may be in Maltese or English. Private schools are usually English-medium apart from Maltese lessons. State-school policy generally exposes pupils to both languages, although the balance varies by institution. The International Learners' Directorate supports induction and functional use of Maltese and English for learners entering the school system, followed by a transition into mainstream education. Maltese and English dominate daily multilingual practice, including code-switching and code-mixing. Maltese English is a locally established variety used in Malta. In the 2022 Malta Skills Survey among people aged 15 to 64, English was understood by 96.0 percent and Maltese by 90.4 percent, while Italian reached 62.0 percent. Arabic and Italian were more prominent among some older groups, while French and German were more prominent among some younger groups. The 2021 Census found Maltese to be the prevailing language among Maltese nationals in every age group. English was reported as an early main language by about 25 percent of children under 10 and 14.7 percent of those aged 10 to 19. English influence was particularly strong in Is-Swieqi, where it reached 37.7 percent, and in Tas-Sliema and San Ġiljan, where it exceeded 25 percent. Among non-Maltese nationals surveyed, about 35 percent had basic Maltese and 96.6 percent understood English. Malta and Gozo also have regional Maltese varieties. Gozitan dialects, including varieties associated with Għarb and other parts of Għawdex, show phonetic, grammatical and vocabulary differences. They are mainly spoken informally and orally. They do not have a separate official, administrative or school-language status, and the official written standard remains shared across the islands. Dialect forms are nevertheless part of local culture and identity. Italian, Arabic, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Serbian, Filipino and other languages are present through migration, education, private life, community activity and media. Malta has no directly evidenced constitutional system of protected regional or minority languages comparable to a separate official minority-language regime. Formal access to public institutions primarily operates through Maltese and English. The International Learners' Directorate can help bridge language barriers in some contexts through native-language support, but this does not create a general right to receive every public service in another language. Maltese Sign Language is legally recognized under the Maltese Sign Language Recognition Act 2016, Cap. 556. The Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ilsien Malti includes it within its language responsibilities. The available evidence does not establish one general nationwide entitlement to a specific interpreter or language service in every sector, so implementation must be checked for the relevant institution or procedure. The Broadcasting Authority regulates radio and television. The Code on Correct Use of Maltese Language on Broadcasting Media Regulations 2010 requires broadcasters to use Maltese correctly in speech and writing and covers translation, adaptation and monitoring, especially in educational, informational and children's programmes. Broadcasting practice commonly combines Maltese and English, but the available evidence does not establish one general language quota for all broadcasters or formats. Language services in administration, education, courts, broadcasting and cultural participation are related but governed by different bodies and rules.