Macaronic

The adjective macaronic – pronounced with the stress on the third syllable, IPA: /,mæ kə 'rɒ nɪk/ – is used to describe anything which is a mixture of elements from different languages: it may be applied, e.g., to a poem or a prose text which is written in a mixture of languages, or to a single sentence which is a mixture of words from two or more languages, or to single (invented) words with parts from different languages. Maceronic may also be used as a noun, often in the plural, to refer to material which is macaronic.

The word macaronic was coined in the 17th century from the New Latin macaronicus, which means literally ‘resembling macaroni’ (in showing lack of sophistication or refinement). It was applied particularly to Macaronic Latin, which consisted of Latin words mixed with words from a local language (sometimes given Latin endings) and in the Middle Ages would typically have been spoken by those of limited education.

A macaronic text with which many will be familiar is the Christmas carol In dulci jubilo. The original carol was a mixture of German and Latin: it was translated into English-by Robert Pearsall (1795-1856), who retained the Latin lines:

In dulci jubilo,

Let us our homage show!

Our heart's joy reclineth

In praesepio;

And like a bright star shineth

Matris in gremio.

Alpha es et O!

[The Latin parts of the text mean, respectively ‘in sweet rejoicing’, ‘in a manger’, ‘on his mother’s lap’, ‘You are alpha and omega (i.e., beginning and end}’.]

Rather different is a poem which mixes English and Modern Greek and was written by Lord Byron (1788-1824) to a Greek girl with whom he was in love:

Maid of Athens, ere we part,

Give, oh, give back my heart!

Or, since that has left my breast,

Keep it now, and take the rest!

Hear my vow before I go,

Ζωή μου, σᾶς ἀγαπῶ.

[The final line, pronounced zo-i mu, sas aghapo, means ‘My life, I love you’.]

However, unlike the two examples given above, most macaronic texts are not in verse but in prose, and often have a humorous or satirical intent.

Here is a final example, still in verse, but with clear satirical intent. It mixes English and (ungrammatical) French and is from the song Je suis un rock star by Bill Wyman (1936- ), the bass guitarist (1962-1993) for the rock-and–roll band the Rolling Stones.

Je suis un rock star

Je avais un residence

Je habiter la

A la south of France

Voulez vous

Partir with me?

And come and rester la

With me in France.

See also Fou de love (Mad with Love), the first song - the lyrics are by Pasquale Panella (1950- ) - in the 1994 album Domenica e lunedí (Sunday and Monday) of the Italian singer-songwriter Angelo Branduardi (1950- ). This macaronic song (available at testicanzoni.mtv.it/testi-Angelo.../testo-Fou-de-love) mixes French, Spanish, English, German, and various Italian dialects.

You may find it helpful to compare macaronic and grammelot.