Dizzjunarju ta’ Termini Nawtiċi - Dictionary of Maltese Nautical Terms

Il-baħar hu marbut mal-ħajja tal-Maltin u l-Għawdxin, u fl-antik kien anke l-mezz ta’ għajxien għal ħafna minnhom. Xi wħud kienu baħħara, oħrajn sajjieda, u oħrajn bennejja tad-dgħajjes. Kollha kellhom il-kliem tagħhom biex jiddeskrivu kull aspett marbut ma’ xogħolhom. Iżda bħalma bdew jisparixxu mill-ibħra tagħna l-qxur tradizzjonali mibnija u użati mill-Maltin innifishom, hekk ukoll beda jgħib il-vokabolarju vast ta’ kliem li kien jintuża minnhom.

Għaldaqstant, dan il-kliem jinsab f’riskju li jintilef. Għalhekk ġie mħejji dan id-dizzjunarju, li l-iskop ewlieni tiegħu hu li jippreserva dan il-vokabolarju rikk u jagħti informazzjoni dwar is-sengħa antika tal-bini tad-dgħajjes u opri oħra tal-baħar ġewwa Malta u Għawdex. It-termini kollha qed jiġu ppreżentati wkoll bl-Ingliż, sew sabiex wieħed ikun jista’ jqabbel il-kliem mal-ekwivalenti tagħhom f’din il-lingwa, kif ukoll biex jifrex l-għarfien tal-Maltin f’din is-sengħa ma’ dawk li mhumiex midħla tal-lingwa Maltija iżda li għandhom interess fit-tema marittima f’Malta. Kull terminu huwa wkoll akkumpanjat minn disinn jew stampa biex il-qarrej jifhem aħjar.

The lives of the people of Malta and Gozo are strongly connected to their sea. In the past it provided a livelihood for many families; some were seamen, others fishermen while others were boatbuilders. They all wielded their own jargon to describe every aspect related to their work or trade.

The main aim of this dictionary is to perpetuate this rich vocabulary and cultivate the lore of the ancient trade of boatbuilding and of other vessels in Malta and Gozo. All the entries are bilingual in Maltese and English so that one can compare the terms with their equivalent, and also to divulge the knowledge of Maltese in this trade with those who are not familiar with the Maltese language but are interested in maritime activity in Malta. Every term is accompanied by an image to ensure a better understanding