142 - A Photo Tells a Story

A Photo Tells a Story

is currently available in 2 editions:

English & Maltralian

Spanish & Maltralian

Click on a cover to buy the book.

Una Foto Cuenta una Historia

está disponible en 2 ediciones:

Inglés y Malté-australiana

Español y Malté-australiana

Haga clic en una portada para comprar el libro.

Jessy's Reflection

I had always hoped to include a variety of Australian Aboriginal languages in the series. Unfortunately, a variety of factors made obtaining translations for Indigenous languages difficult. But, not wanting Australian stories to be left out of the series, I decided to research what other Australian languages might exist.

I'd heard about creoles and pidgin languages before but I was surprised to find a Maltese-based creole had been spoken in Australia for over a hundred years. Some might not even call Maltralian a single dialect. After all, it varies a bit from one state to the next, but that could be said of Australian English too. Every community adapts its vocabulary to suit its own local needs.

These days, even most Maltese-Australians no longer teach Maltralian to their children. They often view it as a corrupted form of Maltese that their ancestors only spoke because of their inferior education. This book is a reminder that Australia's pioneers were not men to be pitied or looked down upon. Rather, they were men who gave up everything they had to take up the great challenge of building a new society in a faraway land on the other side of the world. As such, it is a tribute not only to Azzopardi himself but to all pioneers.

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