Complementary translation

Translatability, as an operative concept, offers a lot of consideration on fundamental issues. The present study focuses on a special approach in translation that is influenced by social bilingualism. The translator's bilingual competence sometimes leads to complementarity in sign and title translation. And complementary translation is viewed as dynamic equivalence.peer-reviewe

Diagnosing Malta's condition in the novel

Throughout the decades Maltese literature has reflected the Mediterranean environment to determine its influence on character. The use of harbour cities (like Birgu and Valletta) in different Maltese novels reflects the social behaviour of the inhabitants. For this presentation two major novels will be discussed: Anton Manwel Caruana's Inez Farrug (1889) and Oliver Friggieri's La Jibnazza Nigi Lura (2006). The former treats social life in harbour districts during the 15,h century and discusses its similarity with 19'h-century social behaviour; and the latter treats industrial life connected with the harbour in the early 20,h century. The paper discusses the relevance of urbanization in terms of these aspects vis-a-vis rural attitudes and way of life in a traditional Maltese environment with some implications of colonialism in Maltese fiction.peer-reviewe

Mis-semantika Maltija : termini deskrittivi bil-Malti ghall-kuluri

The field of colour terminology is a complex one and translators may find difficulties in their work since semantic systems of different languages may differ considerably from each other. This paper proposes a system for Maltese colour terminology based on an amalgamation of the theoretical consideration of Berlin and Kay and the three-dimensional method for colour naming designed by the Inter-Society Color CounciI and the National Bureau of Standards (ISCC-NBS). It also examines some cultural aspects of colours in a Maltese context. The end result is a systematic order that exhibits certain marked differences that can aid translation equivalence.peer-reviewe

L-etimoloġija tal-kelma "dgħajsa"

L-awtur jagħti tagħrif etimoloġiku tal-kelma “dgħajsa.”peer-reviewe

L-importanza tal-lingwi fid-dinja

L-awtur jistħarreġ dwar l-importanza tal-lingwi għas-soċjetajiet.peer-reviewe

L-awto-ġudizzju

L-awtur jagħmel analiżi letterarja tad-dramm “Għasfur taċ-Ċomb” ta’ Oreste Calleja.peer-reviewe

Wirdiena

Din il-poeżija bl-isem `Wirdiena’ ta’ Charles Briffa dehret fil-ġurnal Il-Malti : Rivista tal-Akkademja tal-Malti ħarġa letterarja, 93.peer-reviewe

'Jekk...' ta' Karmenu Vassallo - Nota stilistika

L-awtur jagħmel analiżi stilistika tal-poeżija “Jekk” ta’ Karmenu Vassallo.peer-reviewe

Psychometric properties of the Belief about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) in the Maltese language

Background: Investigating beliefs about medicines has been of interest over the past years, with studies aiming to better understand theoretical reasons behind development of such beliefs. Objective: This study aimed to produce a culturally and contextually appropriate version of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) in the Maltese language and to assess its psychometric properties. Methods: Medication beliefs were evaluated using the BMQ which is divided into two sections: BMQ-General (sub-scales: Overuse and Harm, 4 items per sub-scale) and BMQ-Specific (sub-scales: Necessity and Concerns, 5 items per sub-scale). Following translation/back translation, the Maltese version of the BMQ was applied to patients having asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or depression who attended out-patients' clinics at the main state general hospital in Malta between June and September 2013. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, alpha, was used to determine internal consistency of the BMQ and Principal Component Analysis using Varimax rotation with Kaiser normalisation was carried out to analyse component loading of the items on the respective sub-scales. Results: The Maltese version of the BMQ showed acceptable internal consistency for the harm scale (alpha=0.56), the necessity scale (alpha=0.73) and the concerns scale (alpha=0.66), however the overuse scale gave poor internal consistency (alpha=0.48) due to the item on natural remedies which posed some difficulty in the Maltese sample. The final solution for Principal Component Analysis yielded a four-factor structure representing the 4 sub-scales of the BMQ, with results being comparable to previous studies out in different languages. Conclusion: The Maltese version of the BMQ was found to have acceptable psychometric properties for the beliefs about medicines in the Maltese population.peer-reviewe

Self-management for osteoarthritis of the knee: Does mode of delivery influence outcome?

Background Self-management has become increasingly popular in the management of chronic diseases. There are many different self-management models. Meta analyses of arthritis self-management have concluded that it is difficult to recommend any one program in preference to another due to inconsistencies in the study designs used to evaluate different programs. The Stanford Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP), most commonly delivered by trained lay leaders, is a generic program widely used for people with rheumatological disorders. We have developed a more specific program expressly for people with osteoarthritis of the knee (OAKP). It includes information designed to be delivered by health professionals and results in improvements in pain, function and quality of life. Aim: To determine whether, for people with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, the OAKP implemented in a primary health care setting can achieve and maintain clinically meaningful improvements in more participants than ASMP delivered in the same environment. Methods/Design The effectiveness of the programs will be compared in a single-blind randomized study. Participants: 146 participants with established OA knee will be recruited. Volunteers with coexistent inflammatory joint disease or serious co-morbidities will be excluded. Interventions: Participants will be randomised into either OAKP or ASMP groups and followed for 6 months. Measurements: Assessments will be immediately before and after the intervention and at 6 months. Primary outcome measures will be WOMAC and SF-36 questionnaires and a VAS for pain. Secondary outcomes will include balance, tested using a timed single leg balance test and a timed step test and self-efficacy. Data will be analysed using repeated measures ANOVA. Discussion With an aging population the health care costs for people with arthritis are ever increasing. Although cost analysis is beyond the scope of this study, it is reasonable to expect that costs will be greater when health professionals deliver self-management programs as opposed to lay leaders. Consequently it is critical to examine the relative effectiveness of the primary care management strategies available for OA