Lingua Ignota - Online Decoder, Encoder, Translator

The Lingua ignota is a trilingual lexicon attributed to Hildegard of Bingen, a churchwoman, abbess of Rupertsberg.

In a paragraph entitled Lingua Ignota per simplicem hominem Hildegardem prolata (which can be translated from Latin as: unknown language imagined by a single person: Hildegard), the author presents a list of more than 1000 words in an invented language and accompanied by an alphabet of 23 symbols (sometimes called Litterae ignotae).

Most words in the Lingua ignota are accompanied by a translation in Latin or Middle German. This correspondence allows their meaning to be interpreted and get a translation into English.

For writings with the symbol alphabet, decryption/translation from Lingua Ignota requires to substitute the symbols by their equivalent letter in the latin alphabet.

Example: is decrypted LINGUA.

Since there are only 23 characters, it should not be forgotten that I may be J, that U may be V and that UU may be W.

The original lexicon is visible in 2 manuscripts:

— Wiesbaden, Hessische Landesbibliothek, Cod. 2 (known as the Wiesbaden Codex or Riesenkodex)

— Berlin, Preussische Staatsbibliothek, Cod. Lat. 4° 674 (known as the Berlin Fragment)

An English translation is available here (affiliate link)

The Wiesbaden Codex, known as the Riesenkodex (or Giant Codex), is a medieval manuscript containing much of Hildegard of Bingen's writings. It was copied during the abbess's lifetime at Rupertsberg Monastery, making it a primary source for studying her intellectual and spiritual legacy.

The Lingua Ignota lexicon begins on page 928 and the alphabet appears on page 934

A digital copy is available here

The exact purpose remains uncertain. Several hypotheses include:

— An attempt at secret communication.

— A spiritual or scientific exercise aimed at recreating a pure language.

— A work related to Hildegard's botanical, medical, and zoological knowledge (25% of the words concern science)

Today, the Lingua Ignota is studied as an example of medieval linguistic invention.

Hildegard of Bingen (also known as Hildegard of Ruppertsberg) is said to have created it in the 12th century in Germany (Hildegard was born in 1098 in Rheinhessen).