| Title | Honouring a Gentleman, A Scholar, a Teacher, and a Pastor |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | The Legacy of Martin R. Zammit |
| Contributor | Anthony J. Frendo (author) |
| Kurstin Gatt (author) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0445.01 |
| Landing page | https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0445/chapters/10.11647/obp.0445.01 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Anthony J. Frendo; Kurstin Gatt; |
| Publisher | Open Book Publishers |
| Published on | 2025-01-31 |
| Long abstract | This chapter honors the multifaceted legacy of Martin R. Zammit, a distinguished scholar, teacher, pastor, and mentor whose contributions to Semitic Studies and Arabic linguistics have left an indelible mark. Born in Valletta in 1958, Martin's journey into academia was inspired by early exposure to Maltese linguistic texts and a self-driven pursuit of Arabic, despite its absence in formal education in Malta. His career began with roles involving Arabic translation and cultural liaison, notably as private secretary to the Maltese Prime Minister, Dom Mintoff, where he deepened his engagement with the Arabic-speaking world. Transitioning to academia in 1988, Martin pursued degrees culminating in a Ph.D. in Arabic and Semitic Studies from the University of Malta. His academic career encompassed roles as a lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and ultimately Full Professor. Martin’s diverse research spans Qurʾānic lexicology, Arabic dialectology, Syriac studies, and Maltese linguistics, notably translating the Qurʾān into Maltese and publishing a Syriac Chrestomathy. Balancing teaching, research, and administrative duties, Martin also cultivated personal interests, including amateur radio and world music. His spiritual journey saw him ordained as a priest in the Greek Catholic Church, culminating in his role as Papàs. Even in retirement, Martin plans to pursue scholarly projects, including a comparative grammar of Maltese. His legacy, marked by passion, dedication, and humility, continues to inspire both academic and spiritual communities. |
| Page range | pp. 1–12 |
| Print length | 12 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
| Landing Page | Full text URL | Platform | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0445/chapters/10.11647/obp.0445.01 | Landing page | https://books.openbookpublishers.com/10.11647/obp.0445.01.pdf | Full text URL |
Anthony J. Frendo is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and Emeritus Professor of Near Eastern Archaeology and the Hebrew Bible as well as Senior Fellow of the University of Malta. He has degrees in Philosophy, Theology, Near Eastern Studies, Biblical Exegesis, and holds a PhD in Biblical Archaeology from University College, University of London. He is the author of three books (Pre-Exilic Israel, the Hebrew Bible, and Archaeology: Integrating Text and Artefact, 2011, Approaching Biblical Archaeology, 2021, and How to read Ancient Texts: With a Focus on select Phoenician Inscriptions from Malta 2024), as well as numerous articles, book chapters, and reviews. He was a Visiting Scholar at Sede Boqer in the Negev, Israel, besides having been twice elected Visiting Scholar at Wolfson College, Oxford.
Kurstin Gatt is a Senior Lecturer within the Department of Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures at the Faculty of Arts, University of Malta. He completed his Bachelor’s degree with honours in Oriental Studies (Arabic) at the University of Malta, followed by a Master’s degree in Arabic Studies from the University of Leipzig and a Ph.D. in Arabic Studies from Freie Universität Berlin in Germany. His research interests span Arabic sociolinguistics, political discourse, paremiology, and the linguistic relationships between Arabic and Maltese.