Maltese

Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English. It is a Semitic language descended from Arabic, with influences from Italian, French, and more recently, English. Maltese is written in the Latin script, and has its own unique alphabet, which includes some letters not used in other languages. Maltese is spoken by around 400,000 people, mainly in Malta, but also in Italy, Libya, Tunisia, and other countries with Maltese communities. The language is also used by the Maltese diaspora, which numbers around 1.6 million people. Maltese is one of the official languages of the European Union, and is also a recognised minority language in Italy and Tunisia. The Maltese language has a long and rich history, dating back to the 11th century. It was first written in the Arabic script, before being adapted to the Latin alphabet in the 19th century. Maltese has been influenced by a number of languages over the years, including Arabic, Italian, French, and English. Maltese is a unique language, with its own alphabet, grammar, and vocabulary. It is a living language, which is constantly evolving, and is an important part of Maltese culture and identity.