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MALTESE

, making use of the letter Ħ , unique to Maltese.]]
Maltese, a Semitic Language with significant Sicilian influence, is the national language of the Maltese people. Malta holds the distinction of being the only country in Europe with a Semitic language as the main spoken vernacular. The Maltese language is written with the Maltese Alphabet, a Roman-based script which includes the letters ż (also used in Polish), ċ , ġ , ħ (the Minuscule form of Ħ), and . Although the main body of vocabulary is of Semitic origin, up to 40% of Maltese words are of Romance origin, a result of significant influence from Sicily .


ENGLISH

Before independence in 1964, Malta was a British possession, and a result of this is the fact that English is still an official language, with government business being carried out in both English and Maltese. Most Maltese learn English in school, this being obligatory in most cases.


OTHER LANGUAGES

Because of the tourist industry and proximity to other European countries, many Maltese generally have some degree of proficiency in Italian , and quite a few understand or speak French , Spanish or German .


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