Searching for Home: Embracing My Roots and Empowering My Native Language in the Digital Age
What does summer mean to me? Is it a time for vacation, for relaxation? While an island summer destination may seem like the quintessential dream for many, for me, it’s simply home. I live in Gozo, a small island with around 30,000 residents, part of the Maltese archipelago. Often considered the quieter sister to Malta, Gozo offered me a peaceful childhood. Mornings were filled with the sound of church bells or my neighbor’s chickens.
My grandparents lived next door, and my day often began with a visit to them, sharing mundane conversations as my grandma lovingly tried to convince me to have some sweets - usually with a high success rate. Everything was close by - at most a 10-minute bus ride away. With little to do on such a small island, I often found myself at the local library, getting lost in books.
Gozo, known as the island of the three hills, may be small, but it’s brimming with charm. Rugged cliffs, traditional village feasts, and lush countryside define this beautiful yet humble island. However, living in a small, sea-bound community comes with its challenges. Access to services is limited. Despite having a hospital, major healthcare needs often require traveling to the next island, sometimes even transported by helicopter in emergencies. The same goes for education. While we have primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools,most students commute daily to the neighboring island for their tertiary education, or more commonly now, rent and live temporarily elsewhere. Despite these challenges, I remain deeply attached to my hometown. It has changed a lot since I was a child, but it still feels like home.
When I began my tertiary education and moved to Malta, I started to come out of my shell. It was easier to be myself around people who didn’t know me, which helped me gain confidence and start expressing who I truly am. During my Bachelor’s degree, I sought a niche that combined my love for reading and language with technology, leading me to discover Natural Language Processing (NLP). My thesis supervisor encouraged me to explore NLP for the Maltese language. Initially, this felt like a way to add an exciting ‘novelty’ to my work, but it soon deepened my appreciation for my heritage. As a Gozitan, I’ve always had an accent different from the standard Maltese, and like many, I’ve often tried to mask it to avoid judgment. However, I’ve come to appreciate my dialect as a unique expression of my identity and heritage, realizing that it’s something to be embraced rather than hidden. During my time at university, I’ve been inspired by the work being done to empower the Maltese language in the digital age. It’s even more heartwarming to see efforts to include different dialects, including the Gozitan dialect in the speech and language technology that is being developed.
As I continue my journey in technology and linguistics, I carry with me the values and experiences shaped by my upbringing in Gozo. This small island, with all its quirks and challenges, has instilled in me a deep appreciation for heritage and the importance of preserving it in the face of modernity. I’m excited to contribute to the efforts of bringing our unique dialects and languages into the digital age, ensuring they remain a living part of our culture. Gozo will always be home, and I’m proud to be part of the generation that bridges its rich past with a promising future.
Melanie Galea on 21/08/2024