Għarb dialect

Għarb dialect
Il-Brekju
Region	Għarb
Native speakers	A handful
Language family	Afro-Asiatic Semitic West Semitic Central Semitic Arabic Maghrebi Arabic Pre-Hilalian[1] Sicilian Arabic Maltese Gozitan Għarb dialect
Early form	Old Maltese
Writing system	Maltese alphabet
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–
Glottolog	zurr1238
Għarb in Malta

The Għarb dialect also known as "Il-brekju" is a Critically endangered dialect of Maltese spoken in Għarb, Gozo Region, Malta.^[2][3] One of the dialect's most distinctive features is how għ (referred to as għajn, ) is also pronounced as r, for example "dgħajsa" (boat), is pronounced as drajsa.^[4] it is also known for being a very archaic dialect reminiscent of Old Maltese.^[5][6][7]

References

1. Martine Vanhove, « De quelques traits prehilaliens en maltais », in: Peuplement et arabisation au Maghreb cccidental : dialectologie et histoire, Casa Velazquez - Universidad de Zaragoza (1998), pp.97-108
2. "'Il-Brejku', the secret language only spoken in Għarb". TVMnews.mt. 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
3. Antoinette Camilleri Grima (2020-06-08). "The Vitality of Maltese Dialects in Gozo" (PDF). The Gozo Observer. 41: 8–18. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
4. Vella, Sasha (2021-12-12). "Il-Malti: A Glimpse Into The Fading World Of Gozitan Dialects". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
5. "L-Għarb". Visit Gozo. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
6. "About Għarb". gharbnet.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
7. "Spotlight on: Għarb, Gozo". Oh My Malta (in French). 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2025-01-02.