Language headache

The Euractiv website discusses the European Union's shortage of Maltese interpreters and translators. It says that Maltese translators are few (22) and interpreters even fewer (8) but since English is also an official language in Malta, the issue is more problematic for other new EU member states:

Finding Maltese interpreters is proving a particular headache for the Commission with no successful candidates emerging from a competition in November 2003. Of course it must also be borne in mind that both Maltese and English are official languages in Malta. With a budget for 90 full-time translators, assistants and other support staff for each of the new member state languages, DG Translations has so far found only 22 Maltese recruits. In the next worst position are Hungary, Latvia and Slovenia with 33 each. Interpretingwise, after Malta (8 interpreters), Latvia (48), Slovakia (48) and Slovenia (49) with Hungary topping the list (88).

Commenting on a Commission memorandum setting out the state of play on the provision of post-enlargement translation and interpreting services, UK MEP Andrew Duff (ALDE) said that matters were in a "transitional phase". He noted that interpreters from the new member states were often rather poor but put that down to a lack of experience. In addition, he expressed the hope that delays in written translations would provoke more "self-restraint" by authors. He said both Parliament and Commission could improve their drafting, noting that currently many texts are poorly drafted and overly long. He added that Parliament and Commission would be watching to see how soon working languages would begin to emerge more strongly, notably English and French. He indicated that there may be more nationalities following the Swedes, who tend to draft in English.

The European Commission: Interpretation after Enlargement

The evolution of the Maltese language by Joe Felice Pace

The Maltese language from Wikipedia