Did the builders of Ggantija speak Maltese? What is Maltese, and how did it develop over a thousand years? Why did Maltese survive under the Normans and the Knights? Was the Language Question harmful to Maltese? Why was Anglicisation resisted under British rule, and why has Maltese flourished since Independence?

Professor Joseph M. Brincat will seek answers to these questions as he discusses Maltese and other languages in a public talk taking place this coming Saturday, the 24th of October, at 11am at Il-Hagar Museum in Gozo.

Joseph M. Brincat is Senior Fellow at the University of Malta, where, as Full Professor, he taught Italian linguistics. He holds degrees from the universities of Malta, London, and Florence, has presented papers at conferences held in Europe and the USA, and has delivered courses and seminars at various Italian universities.

His main publications include the edition of a Florentine poet of the 15th century (Florence, 1977), a history of linguistics (Bologna, 1986), and a linguistic history of Malta, published in Maltese (2000, 2005²), Italian (2004) and English (Maltese and Other Languages, Midsea Books, Malta, 2011, 2021²). In 1990, he brought to light a previously unknown passage by al-Himyari concerning the Arab conquest and colonisation of Malta (published in 1991 and 1995).

The museum said that admission is free, but pre-registration is encouraged by sending an email to events@heartofgozo.org.mt. Pre-registration does not guarantee a seat reservation; it is intended for logistical purposes.

Il-Hagar Museum’s full events programme for the 2026-2027 season is available by clicking here.

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