The language in the Middle Ages differs from today’s.
A correct reconstruction is difficult on the one hand and not really useful on the other hand – most of us are unlikely to understand the spoken Low German from the Middle Ages.
It is difficult because there are hardly any texts in Low German from the time.
In addition, even if we have corresponding texts, we cannot be sure how they will be pronounced.
There is no uniform spelling, grammar or even spoken language.
Sound archaeologist Mylène Pardoën deliberately refrained from reconstructing the language in her project – How did Paris sound in the 18th century?
"Nobody knows what French was spoken in Paris at the time. We know the written French, but not the dialects. Many people spoke their native dialects. It is also questionable how loudly they spoke. Until I find evidence, I don't dare to reconstruct language."
Mylène Pardoën
“In godes namen amen. We ghreve Gherart, van der godes ghenaden eyn greve van Holtsten unde van Reynoldesborg, greven Heynrikes sone, unde we ghreve Johan, van densilven gnaden eyn ghreve van Holsten unde van Plone, ghreven Gh[e]rardes sone, bekennen des in desseme breve, dat do uns de stat to deme Kyle hulde deden unde unse man worden, do bedachte we maniche stede truwe unde leve, de se dicke hadden ghedan unde bewiset unsen vorenvaren unde olderen, unde we och hoben, dat se bi uns don scholen, unde gheven alle de vryghehet yn unde mach[t], de se van unsen vorevaren hadden hat, unde darto gans unde vri Lǒbes reyt also vullenkomen, also de stat to Lubeke in binnen hevet, unde vri to brůkende.
Darinbovene schole we nynen torn bůwen oppe deme hus to deme Kyle unde nyne brucke van deme hus ut afslan.
Vortmer den stat-voghet, den schole we setten mit willen unde vullebort des rades to deme Kyle unde se mit unses vullenbort.
Unde de voghet scal wesen eyn borgher der stat wonaytich.
Hirenboven stedeche we al er hantvestinch unde alle vriheit, de ein is chegheven van al unsen olderen unde vorevaren, unde willen se nerchen mede mynnern noch krenke, mer lever beteren, wor we mǒghen.
From the Kiel Charter Book – Document of 01 November 1315 in Plattdüütsch.
Language in the "Kiel 1242" project
But language is an essential aspect in my project.
For this reason, I have to make a compromise.
I can assume that mainly Low German is spoken.
In the educated upper class and in the clergy, presumably also Latin.
In addition, I will also consider Danish.
Contrary to my expectations, no one speaks Friisk – North Frisian in Kiel in the Middle Ages.
I found out about this in exchange with the Nordfriisk Instituut .
Although Kiel is a member of the Hanseatic League, English, French and Spanish are not relevant – Kiel is too insignificant as a trading partner for that and these languages did not yet have the status and degree of distribution in the Middle Ages that they do today.
Like this website, the project will be available in the following languages: German, Low German, Latin, Danish, English, French and Spanish.
However, in the spelling, grammar and pronunciation that are valid today.
Speech synthesis with AI
I can realize the “Kiel 1242” project using AI.
With the Elevenlabs tool, I can generate most of these languages automatically and in relatively good quality at very low cost. Another advantage is the large number of speakers I can choose from.
In this way, I can ensure that a wide variety of sounds and languages can be realized in the project.
I hope Madame Pardoën won’t hold it against me.
Using the iClone program from Reallusion and its integrated LipSync function, I was able to create a largely lip-synchronous animation.