The President of Malta, George Vella has just inaugurated the exhibition titled 'Il-Malti: Il-Mixja sal-Għarfien Uffiċjali'. The exhibition details the impressive history behind the Maltese language.

It is being organised as a collaboration between Heritage Malta and L-Akkademja tal-Malti at the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta.

Divided into ten themes, the exhibition covers the history of the Maltese language from its Semitic roots until it was declared as the national language of Malta in 1964 and eventually as one of the official languages of the European Union in 2004.

Through various documents, books and information panels, the exhibition introduces the public to, the Kantilena of Pietru Caxaro, the sermons in Maltese by Ignazio Saverio Mifsud and the writings of Agius de Soldanis and Vassalli.

It also presents those who visit with the only issue of the 'L'Arlecchin' newspaper in Maltese of December 1838, documents relating to the language question, the establishment of L-Għaqda tal-Kittieba tal-Malti, as well as monumental works such as the Bible translation by Pietru Pawl Saydon and the dictionary of Ġużè Aquilina.

The Chairman of Heritage Malta, Mario Cutajar, stated that this exhibition has three objectives. Firstly, to recognise that the journey of our language was not easy and those who worked as hard as they could for our language deserve to be honoured.  Secondly, to urge us to realise that the Maltese language is our heritage and thirdly to also learn from the past, appreciate our language and to safeguard it.

In conjunction with this exhibition, Dr Mario Cassar will deliver a public lecture on the Maltese language during the rule of the Order of St John at the National Museum of Archaeology this Friday, 26^th February at 6.30pm.

Facebook/George Vella via Francis Debono