Baragouin

/ˌbɑrəˈɡwɑn/ noun

Definition

Unintelligible or confused speech; gibberish or language that cannot be understood.

Etymology

From French baragouin 'jargon' or 'unintelligible speech.' The French term possibly derives from Breton 'baragouin,' entered English in the 18th century for mockingly incomprehensible language.

Kelly Says

Baragouin became popular when 18th-century Europeans encountered unfamiliar languages and couldn't understand them—what we'd now respect as bilingual speech was then dismissed as 'baragouin,' revealing linguistic prejudice.

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