SACRED CODE-SWITCHING: LATIN–ENGLISH MACARONIC TEXTS AS SITES OF IDEOLOGICAL NEGOTIATION

Abstract

This article examines Latin–English macaronic texts as dynamic sites of ideological negotiation in religious, literary, and sociolinguistic contexts. Macaronic discourse, characterized by the deliberate mixing of two or more languages within a single text, has historically served as a medium through which competing identities, beliefs, and power structures are articulated and contested. Focusing on the interaction between Latin as the traditional language of sacred authority and English as the vernacular language of accessibility and communal participation, the study investigates how code-switching functions not merely as a linguistic phenomenon but as a symbolic resource. Through qualitative textual analysis of selected religious hymns, sermons, and devotional writings, the research demonstrates that Latin–English code-switching creates a discursive space where institutional authority and popular religiosity coexist and interact. The findings reveal that macaronic texts facilitate ideological mediation between elite and lay audiences, reinforce collective religious identities, and contribute to the preservation and transformation of sacred traditions. The study highlights the importance of multilingual textual practices in understanding historical and contemporary processes of cultural negotiation and linguistic identity formation.