Malta's national language is Maltese which enjoys a unique significance as the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet and the only spoken Semitic language within the European Union.
Maltese has its roots in Siculo-Arabic, a type of dialect that emerged over 1,000 years ago in southern Italy, Sicily and Malta.
The official languages on the island are Maltese and English; however, German, French and Italian are widely used and are taught in many schools today.
