Speech that involves using a mixture of languages is known as ‘macaronic’. There are lots of examples of these from all over the world, including both spoken and written language, generally from cultures in which bilingualism is common. They include: medieval European texts that mixed Latin (then a lingua franca for the educated and for commerce and diplomacy) with a variety of vernacular languages; spoken and written language in Ireland and Scotland until the mid-nineteenth century; and languages spoken in swathes of Latin America until the present
The term ‘macaronic’ comes from a 15th century Paduan word ‘maccarona’, referring to a kind of dumpling eaten by the poorer classes at the time, presumably a verbal sneer at those seen as being less educated. This word can be found in the Italian ‘maccheroni’, a food eaten by the poor, but also in the much more refined French sweets ‘macarons‘‘.
Modern writers and singers still employ macaronic speech in their literature and music, notably Talking Heads with their 1977 hit Psycho Killer.
You’ve probably engaged in macaronic speech yourself, perhaps referring to ‘having a siesta’ or ‘enjoying some dolce far niente’ or sighing something along the lines of, ‘Well, you know, c’est la vie…’
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