Hildegard of Bingen’s Unknown Language

SARAH HIGLEY is an Associate Professor at the University of Rochester, New York, USA.

• Language as Vineyard and Edifice An Unknown Language by a Visionary Woman Glossolalia and Why it is Inapplicable to Hildegard Medieval Language Philosophy Fifteenth - to Nineteenth-Century Language Invention Play, Aesthetic, and Gender in Contemporary Language Invention Greening Language: Hildegard's Monastery Garden Manuscript Information The Wiesbaden Version of the Lingua (with Additions from the Berlin MS), and an English Translation and Notes Hildegard's Lingua alphabetized

"For the first time, Hildegard's Lingua ignota is put in a strictly historical context, which runs up to the present time. The content of the 1012 words of the Lingua ignota is based on the 'Summarium Heinrici', a medieval encyclopedia, which stands in the tradition of the Etymologies of Isidor of Sevilla. In this work, all the visible and non-visible reality is described and brought into a hierarchical order. The tendency is 'reification', describing realities, not transcendence, mythical speech or quietness. With great accuracy and theoretical positioning, Higley's book makes a strong contribution to the study of Hildegaard and language creation." - Michael Embach, Professor at the University of Trier and Director of the City Library of Trier; Author of Die Schriften Hildegards von Bingen (2003)"Hildegard s Unknown Language of more than one thousand invented words has both intrigued and puzzled modern scholars since the mid-nineteenth century. Higley s book provides by far the best edition of this language along with its Latin and German glosses, as well as a complete annotated English translation. Setting it within the context of invented languages, past and present, Higley corrects numerous misconceptions about Hildegard s most mysterious creation and draws fascinating parallels to today s invented languages, especially those by women. This is a unique achievement and a must-have book for anyone interested in Hildegard." - Honey Meconi, Professor of Musicology, Eastman School of Music; Author of Hildegard of Bingen (forthcoming)