Maltralian - Some Maltralian Characteristics

Some Maltralian Characteristics

The Maltese language in Australia developed a different style from the Standard Maltese, in part due to the Australian social environment.

Maltralian divergences from standard Maltese include:

• The word blaġa (bludger), a masculine and feminine noun, with the verb ibblaġġja, neither of which occur in Standard Maltese.

• Maltese words developed a new format like iddmanda (to demand) from the Maltese word tiddomanda.

• Words like kejn/kejna rather than kannamieli or blinka (blinker) but not the Standard indikejter (indicator).

• Standard Maltese uses appoġġa for help, but Maltralian uses rifed.

• Standard Maltese uses bank for bank, but Maltralian uses mislef.

• There is a lack of Italian influence in the Maltralian dialect, unlike Standard Maltese, for example ċaw (bye) is not used but saħħa is, awguri is not used but nifraħlek or nixtieqlek ir-riżq are. However, these Semitic expressions are still present in Standard Maltese.

• For futbol (football) in Maltralian use soker, not traditionally used in Standard Maltese.

• The plural of dar (home) in Maltese is djar (homes) but in Maltralian the plural of dar is djars, darsijiet or djarsijiet. For buttuna (button) the Standard plural buttuni in not used, in favour of btaten. Tifla (girl) does not take the Standard plural bniet but tifliet.

• The word 'cheap' in Maltese is irħis (cheap) and irħas (cheaper), but in Maltralian iċep and iċjep are used.