Tal-pepe people attempting to speak Maltese is the funniest sound in the world, according to a new study.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers at the American University of Malta, led by Professor Imona Jetski.
“We had long suspected that the strained noises made by upper-middle-class people from Sliema, St Julians and so on when trying to speak their own country’s language were probably among the most hilarious sounds in the world. So we decided to put it to the test,” Prof Jetski said.
The researchers put together several focus groups made up of both Maltese people and expats.
“We then played them clips of funny noises such as screaming goats, various types of farts, Donald Trump speeches, and tal-pepe people speaking English.
“But none of those sounds elicited the same reaction as when we played video clips of Maltese English speakers twisting their mouths into shapes they weren’t used to making. To use a non-scientific expression, the subjects lost their shit.
“In fact, the only people who weren’t in stitches were tal-pepe people themselves, who said, “Maaaaa what’s so funny like? How mean you are!””
Prof Jetski said she agreed with people online who complained about people speaking in English.
“Malta would definitely be a happier place if we had to listen to phrases like ‘Jien-ah jisi-mini Bettinaaaa ooh noqghod Pembrewk” every day.”
