This is more a Florida phenomenon rather than an overtly mafia one.

Exactly, Mickey.

It's commonly referred to as "Spanglish," and you see it just about anywhere there's a large Latino population in America. From New York to South Florida to Arizona. My Italian is pretty good, so when I'm confronted with Spanish speakers who speak little English---and I see it quite a bit here in the Bronx---I usually answer in my own hybrid of Italian/Spanish/English. And I almost always get my point across.

I seriously doubt that the Trafficantes came up with a secret language .

It seems like Tampan was less a "code" as such, and more a lingua franca between Cuban and Italian mobsters. Its a composite, a sort of Pidgin Spanish. The languages are pretty similar, after all.

This is more a Florida phenomenon rather than an overtly mafia one. Seeing as most wiseguys speak bad enough English, let alone Italian, I dont think they're still doing business in a Spanish-Italian slang hybrid. Even most Cuban guys speak English.

Of course, there'd still be some folk who speak and use it daily. Probably old Spanish and Italian people in Ybor City, for one. Most probably while yelling at each other. Or while haggling for things at the markets, and generally being argumentative.

Yep, old people are weird.

Hey Scott. Stoked to see you round the GBB mate! Nothing for nothing, but Cigar City Mafia was a great book, and one of my favourites regarding a more esoteric aspect of LCN; families outside of NY.