Triq il-Fatati

L-awtur jitkellem mil-lat toponomastiku u folkloristiku dwar Triq il-Fatati jew kif inhi magħrufa llum bħala Triq Tas-Sliema.N/

The development of a speech and language screening test for Maltese older persons

Aim: To develop the first screening test for Maltese speaking older adults with acquired language difficulties based on normative data, referred to in the study as Language Screening Test for the Elderly (LeST). Methodology: Normative data were collected from a representative sample of 77 elders living in the community, through cluster sampling from the five regions of Malta. Inclusion criteria: i) functional hearing abilities, ii) no history of neurological disorders, and iii) no cognitive impairment. Eighteen subjects were excluded. Factors taken into account: a) age (60 to 79 years and 80+ years), b) gender, c) educational background, d) literacy and e) bilingualism. A pilot study was carried out on 20 participants. Data collection was carried out at day centres by four speech language pathologists (SLPs). The LeST was also administered on ten subjects with aphasia and results were compared to the normal population. Results: Correlation and comparative statistical analysis of the data revealed that 1) scores were not affected by gender, age or locality, 2) p-values reach significance for factors related to bilingualism and literacy, and 3) the mean scores differ significantly between the control and test group. A cut-off point for receptive skills and one for expressive skills were also obtained. Conclusion: The test is valid for the purpose of language screening and would serve to ensure early identification of language impairment.peer-reviewe

Hymn to the heroes of Malta

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Alla fil-ħolqien ta’ Ġużè Agius Bonello – Is-sena u l-bniedem ta’ Ġużè Ellul-Mercer – Li tiżra’ taħsad ta’ Vic. Apap – Huwa ta’ Gino Muscat-Azzopardi – Żewġ friefet ta’ Vincent Caruana – Iċ-ċagħka ta’ Ġużè Borg – Warda midbiela ta’ C. Gauci – It-tfajla tas-sulfarini ta’ Albert M. Cassola – L-aħħar traduzzjoni ta’ May Butcher qabel ma mietet – Hymn to the heroes of Malta.N/

Jien, Min Jien?

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Il-Għanja ta’ Ċikkulata u Ċikkulatu ta’ Dun Karm – Mill-Qiegħ ta’ l-Imgħoddi ta’ Ġużè Chetcuti – Frak tad-Deheb ta’ P. Ġużeppi Meilak – Waqt ta’ Ġużè Ellul Mercer – “Għax Nibża’ Jiena fil-Jum Ħażin?” ta’ A. Copperstone – Ruħ il-Poeta ta’ Dun Frans Camilleri – Nisel ta’ Erin Serracino-Inglott – “Għanja” ta’ Ġużi Micallef Grimaud – Jien, Min Jien? ta’ Ġużè Galea.N/

Lir-rivista tagħna “Il-Malti”

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Atomi u nies ta’ E. Agius – Tifkiriet ta’ tfuliti ta’ Karmenu Vassallo – Lil ħija Salvu ta’ J. C. Friggieri – ....U l-art titkellem ta’ Dun Frans Camilleri – Lil Mary Meylak ta’ John Sciberras – Siltiet minn ‘Il-Ħabs Tiegħi’ ta’ Silvio Pellico ta’ Val. V. Barbara – Qalb sinċiera ma teqdiemx ta’ Ġużeppina Attard Montalto – Oqbra minsija ta’ Ninu Cremona – Għajnejn saħħara ta’ Ġ. Ellul Mercer – Lir-rivista tagħna “Il-Malti” ta’ Mario Agius.N/

Għanjiet ta’ Mħabba

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Mid-djarju tiegħi ta’ Ġużè Ellul Mercer – Settembru ta’ Wallace Gulia – Dawra f’Ta’ Frankuni ta’ K. Fenech – Wara Sidu sal-Mewt ta’ A. Cremona – Għanjiet ta’ Mħabba ta’ Louis Ellul.N/

The development of a speech and language screening test for Maltese older persons

Abstract Aim: To develop the first screening test for Maltese speaking older adults with acquired language difficulties based on normative data, referred to in the study as Language Screening Test for the Elderly (LeST). Methodology: Normative data were collected from a representative sample of 77 elders living in the community, through cluster sampling from the five regions of Malta. Inclusion criteria: i) functional hearing abilities, ii) no history of neurological disorders, and iii) no cognitive impairment. Eighteen subjects were excluded. Factors taken into account: a) age (60 to 79 years and 80+ years), b) gender, c) educational background, d) literacy and e) bilingualism. A pilot study was carried out on 20 participants. Data collection was carried out at day centres by four speech language pathologists (SLPs). The LeST was also administered on ten subjects with aphasia and results were compared to the normal population. Results: Correlation and comparative statistical analysis of the data revealed that 1) scores were not affected by gender, age or locality, 2) p-values reach significance for factors related to bilingualism and literacy, and 3) the mean scores differ significantly between the control and test group. A cut-off point for receptive skills and one for expressive skills were also obtained. Conclusion: The test is valid for the purpose of language screening and would serve to ensure early identification of language impairment

Tifkira ta’ Laqgħa ta’ “Brains Trust”

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Il-Bniedem Biss..... ta’ Dun Frans Camilleri – Ma Nistagħġibx! ta’ Ġ. Delia – Lill-Imħara ta’ George Zammit – Smajt Ruħ Tokrob ta’ Ġużè Ellul Mercer – X’Inħobb ta’ M. Agius – Tifkira ta’ Laqgħa ta’ “Brains Trust” ta’ E. Agius.N/

Ħolma?!........

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: L-Akbar Poeta ta’ Dun Karm – Id-Dgħajsa Tiegħi ta’ A. Cremona – Il-Ġrajja ta’ Ġużè Ellul Mercer – Maninu, id-deffien Soċjalista ta’ Albert M. Cassola – Quotidie Morior! ta’ Dun Frans Camilleri – L-Ħajja ta’ Sidna ta’ A. Copperstone – Ħolma?!........ ta’ Rob. Mifsud Bonnici.N/

Lis-sunett Malti

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Fi tlugħ ix-xemx ta’ Dun Frans Camilleri – Peppinu u Ġakkinu ta’ A. Buttigieg – Firda minn kelb ta’ Ġużè Ellul Mercer – It-tmintax-il waħda ta’ Ġużi Abela – Kapitlu l-aħħar ta’ Albert M. Cassola – Il-fanal ta’ Malta ta’ George Zammit – Ċensu Slaw jagħmel ikla tajba ta’ Albert M. Cassola – Il-għanja ta’ poeta tal-bieraħ ta’ Karmenu Vassallo – Lis-sunett Malti ta’ Vincent Ungaro.N/