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From: deb5@ellis.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: Maltese
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References: <3o8ojm$1o9o@usenetp1.news.prodigy.com> <D82x5o.167@cwi.nl> <3ooebc$f1v@uwm.edu> <3pvekp$115s@majestix.uni-muenster.de>
Date: Thu, 25 May 1995 05:09:08 GMT
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In article <3pvekp$115s@majestix.uni-muenster.de>,
Katrin Thier <thier@comix.uni-muenster.de> wrote:

>I've heard that Maltese is descended from Phoenician, a Semitic language
>closer to Hebrew. Is that so? What are the main arguments for or against
>this statement?

There are *none* for it.  It is universally accepted that Maltese is
an Arabic dialect with heavy Romance influence.  Someone might be able
to argue that there are Phoenician survivals in Maltese (I've never
heard this argument, but it might at least be tenable).

Where did you hear this particular piece of misinformation?
-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
