Editing Malta (section)

===Languages===
{{Main|Languages of Malta}}
{{See also|#Education}}
[[File:Il-Kantilena.png|thumb|''[[Il-Kantilena]]'' by [[Pietru Caxaro]], the oldest text in [[Maltese language]], 15th century]]
The [[Maltese language]] ({{langx|mt|Malti}}) is one of the two constitutional [[languages]] of Malta and is considered the national language. The second official language is English and hence laws are enacted both in Maltese and English. However, article 74 of the Constitution states that "if there is any conflict between the Maltese and the English texts of any law, the Maltese text shall prevail."<ref name="constitution" /> Many speakers of English use a local dialect, [[Maltese English]].

Maltese is a [[Semitic language]] descended from the now extinct Sicilian-Arabic ([[Siculo-Arabic]]) dialect (from [[southern Italy]]) that developed during the [[Emirate of Sicily]].<ref name="MED">Joseph M. Brincat [http://macmillandictionaries.com/MED-Magazine/February2005/27-LI-Maltese.htm Maltese&nbsp;– an unusual formula] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208063739/http://macmillandictionaries.com/MED-Magazine/February2005/27-LI-Maltese.htm |date=8 December 2015 }}, MED Magazine (February 2005)</ref> The [[Maltese alphabet]] consists of 30 letters based on the [[Latin alphabet]].

In 2022, Malta National Statistics Office states that 90 percent of the Maltese population has at least a basic knowledge of Maltese, 96 percent of English, 62 percent of Italian, and 20 percent of French.<ref name="skills2022"/> This widespread knowledge of [[second language]]s makes Malta one of the most multilingual countries in the [[European Union]]. A study collecting public opinion on what language was "preferred" discovered that 86 percent of the population preferred Maltese, 12 percent English, and 2 percent Italian.<ref name=LinguisticView/> Italian television channels from Italy-based broadcasters, such as [[Mediaset]] and [[RAI]], reach Malta and remain popular.<ref name="LinguisticView">Ignasi Badia i Capdevila (2004) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120312145908/http://www6.gencat.cat/llengcat/noves/hm04primavera-estiu/a_badia2_3.htm A view of the linguistic situation in Malta]. NovesSl. Retrieved 24 February 2008</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1045691.stm Country profile: Malta] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607062334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1045691.stm |date=7 June 2012 }}. BBC News</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2005 |title=Europeans and languages |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_237.en.pdf  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128095746/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_237.en.pdf |archive-date=28 January 2007 |access-date=29 January 2007 |publisher=European Commission |page=4}}</ref>

[[Maltese Sign Language]] is used by signers in Malta.<ref name="paggio">{{Cite book |last1=Paggio |first1=Patrizia |url=http://langsci-press.org/catalog/book/182 |title=The languages of Malta |last2=Gatt |first2=Albert |date=2018 |publisher=Language Science Press |isbn=978-3-96110-070-5 |veditors=Paggio P, Gatt A |format=pdf |doi=10.5281/zenodo.1181783 |access-date=15 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115195121/http://langsci-press.org/catalog/book/182 |archive-date=15 November 2018 |url-status=live |doi-access=free}}</ref>