Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/176463
12 Survey maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2013 Main findings • 68.2% say language is defining feature of Maltese identity. identity • 'Religion', 'generosity' and 'feasts' more important those aged 55 and over • 17% speak a mixture of Maltese and English in their homes. • 27% of university-educated are bilingual at home, 17% speak only English • Kinnie and tomato products 'most successful' Maltese products • Tenor Joseph Calleja seen as Malta's best export to the world • 59% get independence date right, but majority do not know year when Malta's other four national events took place • Those aged under 35, least knowledgeable about historical dates • 63% correctly recognise that Maltese were once Muslims. Knowledge of this historical fact lowest among under-35 year olds • Italy is foreign country most admired for its culture • Relative majority agree with granting automatic citizenship to children of migrants who completed school cycles in Malta • Labour voters most likely to disagree with relaxing citizenship rules Which personality is Malta's best representative in the world? % Joseph Calleja ......................................................... 41.1 Joseph Muscat ...........................................................8.3 William Chetcuti ........................................................ 3.1 George Abela ............................................................. 2.9 Gianluca Bezzina ........................................................2.0 Lawrence Gonzi..........................................................2.0 Ira Losco ................................................................... 1.7 Other Eurovision singers ............................................4.0 Eddie Fenech Adami ................................................... 1.4 Marco Cremona .......................................................... 1.1 Other ........................................................................6.0 None ....................................................................... 26.4 Respondents were not prompted by any list of names and were free to mention anyone R History, identity and citizenship Muslim roots During the past 1500 years the majority of the inhabitants of the Maltese islands were: Maltese fail exam in history, feel closer to the Italians, and approve of citizenship for migrants' children who complete schooling Correct knowledge of dates of national dates by age: 18-34 35-54 Independence day 1964 50.9 63 Republic day 1974 25.5 38.6 Freedom day 1979 20 44.1 Sette Gugnio 1919 25.5 29.9 Great Siege 1565 38.2 59.8 55+ 64.7 41.3 51.5 32.9 49.1 All 59.7 35.6 39.7 29.6 48 (Respondents were asked to state the year in which each of the five national events commemorated as national days took place) Correct knowledge of national dates by level education University Independence day 84.9 Republic day 41.5 Freedom day 49.1 Sette Gugnio 49.1 Great Siege 67.9 Post-Sec Secondary Primary 64.1 58.3 49.3 43.8 35.9 31.5 42.2 43.6 39.7 32.8 26.9 23.3 56.3 42.3 28.8 Correct knowledge of dates by political allegiance: The year Malta became independent – 1964 – is the only date among Malta's national feasts to be remembered by most respondents Independence day Republic day Freedom day Sette Gugnio Great Siege 1964, the year when Malta became independent, is the only date among the five commemorated each year as Malta's national feasts to be known to a majority of respondents. Surprisingly 1565, the year of the Great Siege, is more known than 1974 (Republic day), 1979 (the closure of the military base) and 1919 (the Sette Gugnio). Surprisingly Labour voters are more likely to know the year of independence, whose celebration was banned by Dom Mintoff's government, than the year in which Malta achieved full freedom by closing down the British military base. Unsurprisingly Labour voters are more likely to get the correct date of Republic Day and Freedom Day. But Nationalist voters were more likely to guess the year of the Great Siege and the year of independence. University-educated respondents are, as expected, the 35-year-old opera singer Joseph Calleja emerges as Malta's top cultural export. But the list of Malta's top representatives in the global stage is devoid of scientists, artists and writers. The only scientist to get a few mentions is Everester and hydrologist Marco Cremona. Awkwardly, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is the second most mentioned personality in what could be a clear indication of the pervasiveness of partisan politics. The only sportsman to get a mention is shooter William Chetcuti. Most of the other names mentioned are Eurovision aspirants, as well as past prime ministers and Presidents of the Republic. PN voters PL voters 67.6 61.1 32.4 46.0 39.4 50.8 23.9 31.7 52.1 46.8 most knowledgeable all round. But even among this category the majority do not know the year in which Malta became a republic and when the military base was closed. Although these dates are thought at school, knowledge of these historical dates is lowest among under-34s. Among this category nearly half do not know when Malta became independent, and only one-fifth know when Malta ceased to be a military base. Curiously among this age group respondents were more likely to know the year of the Sette Giugno riots, than the day when British troops left Malta. On the other hand, over-55s, who have living memory of some of these dates, are the most likely to get the dates right for Independence Day, Republic Day and Freedom Day. The cohort aged 34-54 were the most likely to get the Great Siege date right. Always Christian....................................... 27.1 Where for some time Muslim ......................62.6 Don't Know ..............................................10.3 Correctly believe that majority of Maltese were once Muslim: 18-34......................................................56.4 35-54......................................................64.6 55+ ........................................................ 63.5 University ...............................................64.2 Post Secondary ........................................50.0 Secondary ...............................................65.4 Primary ..................................................64.0 PN voters ................................................ 63.4 PL voters .................................................68.3 All ..........................................................62.6 Historian Prof. Godfrey Wettinger, whose historical research established the inconvenient truth that the Maltese were Muslims for a number of centuries sometime between the ninth and the thirteenth centuries, is vindicated by the survey. Historical research suggests that Malta was actually repopulated by Muslims from Sicily during this period, possibly after a period during which the island was practically left empty. 63% of the Maltese accept this historical fact, proven by the absence of any Christian remains during the early Middle Ages, the survival of Arabic surnames and place names, and Goffredo Malaterra's account of Count Roger's attack on Malta, which suggests that the only Christians living in Malta at that time were Greek slaves. Surprisingly, knowledge of this historical fact, which is supposedly thought in schools, is lowest among 18-34s and among respondents with a post-secondary education. In an indication that the question is still somewhat ideologically loaded, Labour voters were more likely than PN voters to know (or admit) this historical fact.