De ce au negat maltezii secole la rând că limba lor vine din arabă. Povestea unui mit născut din prejudecăți

For centuries, Maltese people believed their language descended from Phoenician, but linguists now confirm it originates from an Arabic dialect introduced after the Muslim conquest in 870. The myth of Phoenician descent, popularized in 1536, intertwined with issues of race and nationalism, providing a shield against prejudices associated with Arabic speakers. The true origins of Maltese were obscured by the lack of written records and the prestige of other languages like Greek and Latin. Recent studies show strong ties to Maghrebi Arabic, while the Phoenician myth gained traction due to romanticized views of ancient civilizations. Despite the historical evidence, the narrative persisted, influencing national identity until the scientific understanding of Maltese's Arabic roots was established in the 19th century, leading to its recognition as an official language in 1934 and by the EU in 2004.