Prof. Manwel Mifsud
Il-Prof. Manwel Mifsud studja l-Malti u l-ilsna Semitiċi fl-Università ta’ Malta u fl-Università La Sapienza, Ruma. L-oqsma ta’ speċjalizzazzjoni tiegħu huma l-lingwistika storika tal-Malti (b’enfasi fuq il-morfoloġija), l-element Rumanz fil-Malti u t-tifsil għal-lingwa. Kellu sehem ewlieni fil-politika lingwistika lokali ta’ dawn l-aħħar snin u kien il-Kap tad-Dipartiment tal-Malti fl-Università (2004-2011), l-ewwel President tal-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ilsien Malti (2005-2013) u s-Segretarju tal-Assoċjazzjoni Internazzjonali tad-Djalettoloġija Għarbija – AïDA (1993-2004). Sal-lum huwa d-Direttur tal-Kors fil-Qari tal-Provi (2004 –). Huwa wkoll kantawtur, u għandu interess fit-tradizzjoni orali, l-aktar fil-qasam tal-istorja tal-mużika popolari Maltija. Huwa wkoll il-konsulent lingwistiku residenti ta’ programm popolari bir-radju ta’ kull ġimgħa fuq l-ilsien Malti (2004 –). Ippubblika l-ktieb Loan Verbs in Maltese (Leiden: Brill, 1995), Fuq l-Għatba tal-Malti (Strasburgu: Il-Kunsill tal-Ewropa, 1997) mal-Prof. Albert Borg, il-ktiba “Maltese” fl-Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics (Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2008) u diversi studji oħra ta’ xeħta lingwistika li qara f’kungressi f’Malta u barra.
Prof. Manwel Mifsud studied Maltese and Semitic languages at the University of Malta and the University La Sapienza, Rome. His fields of specialization are the historical linguistics of Maltese (in particular its morphology), the Romance element in Maltese and language planning. He had an important role in the development of a local language policy in recent years and has served as Head of the University Department of Maltese (2004-2011), as the first President of the National Council for the Maltese Language (2005-2013) and as Secretary of the International Association of Arabic Dialectology – AïDA (1993-2004). Till the present time, he is the Director of the University Course in Proof Reading: Maltese (2004 –). He is also a song writer and singer, with an interest in oral tradition, particularly in the field of popular Maltese music. He is the resident linguistic consultant in a popular weekly radio program on the Maltese language (2004 –). His publications include Loan Verbs in Maltese (Leiden: Brill, 1995), Fuq l-Għatba tal-Malti (Strasbourg: Council of Europe, 1997) jointly written with Prof. Albert Borg, the entry for “Maltese” in the Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics (Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2008) and several other linguistic papers which he read in conferences both in Malta and abroad.
