Languages and Names

The following Living Languages are spoken in France and bordering lands. Each consists of several distinct regional dialects, which are given in parentheses; most characters should take the appropriate one as a specialty. Educated or well-traveled speakers will have tried hard to rid themselves of their dialect, and may have standard specialties (see ArM5, page 66).

French (Orleanais, Norman, Picard, Walloon, Champenois, Bourguignon, Lorrain, Poitevin)

Occitan (Gascon, Limousin, Auvergnat, Provencal, Catalan)

Breton

Low German (Frisian, Flemish)

French, the group of dialects also known as the Langues d'Ouiel, is spoken throughout most of the tribunal. Orleanais is the dialect of the Ile de France, including Paris. Those from other parts of the country who need to communicate with the nobility also speak this language. This includes many merchants and trades persons. Picard and Walloon are spoken in the northern-most region — Picard to the west and Walloon in Lower Lorraine. Frisian and Flemish are used in the far north. Lorrain is spoken in Upper Lorraine. Champenois is the dialect of the Champagne. Bourguignon is that of Burgundy. The Norman dialect is spoken in Normandy and the eastern parts of Brittany. Anglo-Norman, as spoken by the ruling classes in England and those in England involved in overseas commerce, is very closely related to the Norman dialect and a very similar dialect of French is spoken in the Channel Islands, also. Poitevin is the dialect of Anjou and western Aquitaine. In the rest of Aquitaine, dialects of Occitan (also known as Langues d'Oc) are spoken; in the central region it is Limousin, and Auvergnat further east. Breton is spoken in all but the eastern region of Brittany; it is closely related to Cornish and Welsh. The Occitan dialects of Gascon, Provencal, and Catalan are spoken by people living beyond the southern borders of the Normandy Tribunal.

Educated people speak and write some Latin, as usual. It is rare to find a book written in anything other than Latin, but accounts and letters are sometimes written in other languages. Breton is the only one that is hardly ever written.

Same language, different dialects:

–1 penalty to both speakers

French vs Occitan:

–2 penalty to both speakers

Breton vs Cornish:

–1 penalty to both speakers

Breton vs Welsh:

–2 penalty to both speakers

French (Norman) vs Anglo-Norman:

–1 penalty to both speakers

Low German vs English:

–3 penalty (only –2 if Frisian dialect) to both speakers

The other pairs are so distinct from each other that comprehension is likely to be based on signing and good guesswork, or magic.

Example: A character from Normandy with French 5 (Norman) speaks to fellow Normans with an effective score of 6, French speakers with no dialect with an effective score of 5, Parisians with an effective score of 4, all Occitan speakers with an effective score of 3, and can communicate with visiting English merchants with ease, as long as they speak Anglo-Norman (effective score 4).

Lists of suggested medieval names suitable for characters from the Normandy Tribunal are given below, for French, Breton, and Flemish. Many French names can also be used for Breton.

Male Names (French)

Adam, Aimon, Alain, Alenard, André, Anseau, Artaut, Aubert, Aubry, Baudouin, Bernard, Bertran, Charles, Colin, Denis, Didier, Dreux, Durand, Enguerrand, Érard, Estienne, Étienne, Eudes, Eustache, Évrard, Fiebras, François, Frédéric, Foucaud, Gautier, Gerard, Gervais, Geoffroy, Gilles, Gobert, Godefroi, Guignes, Guillaume, Guillot, Guy, Henri, Hervé, Hugues, Jacques, Jean, Jehan, Josselin, Josserand, Julien, Louis, Martin, Mathieu, Marcel, Maurice, Michiel, Naimes, Nicolas, Olivier, Orthon, Perrin, Philippe, Philippot, Pierre, Ponce, Raoul, Raymond, Renaud, Renier, Renouart, Regnault, Richard, Robert, Robin, Roger, Roland, Simon, Tancred, Thibaut, Thierry, Thomas, Vilain, Vincent, Yves.

Female Names (French)

Adeline, Agnes, Agnesot, Alison, Ameline, Amelot, Anne, Aude, Blanche, Catherine, Chrestienne, Clarisse, Collette, Denise, Denisette, Dorian, Edine, Emmelot, Florence, Genevote, Gervaise, Guillemette, Guillette, Guiote, Honnorée, Ide, Isabelle, Jaqueline, Jaquette, Jehanne, Jehannette, Joie, Juliote, Loyse, Lutisse, Mahault, Margot, Marguerite, Marie, Marion, Martine, Mathilde, Mesot, Mirabelle, Nicole, Odette, Oudine, Pasquette, Pernelle, Perrette, Perotte, Philippote, Plantée, Poubelle, Rixenda, Serena, Sybille, Symonne, Typhainne, Ysabeau, Ysabel, Ysabelet.

Male Names (Breton)

Adiuni, Alan, Arthur, Belado, Benabic, Bertho, Britou, Budnouen, Corentin, Conbriti, Disideri, Deniel, Erwan, Felix, Gaël, Gallmau, Guillouic, Guiomarch, Gwenaël, Gwenneg, Gwilherm, Heranal, Huon, Iocilin, Lagu, Loïc, Maël, Maonirn, Mihael, Padrig, Paol, Per, Pierrick, Rioc, Roparzh, Turtouald, Winoc, Yann.

Female Names (Breton)

Agace, Annick, Armelle, Beatrice, Beladore, Berthildis, Drilego, Franseza, Gaëlle, Gwenaëlle, Heranneun, Ivone, Katarin, Katell, Maëlle, Maëlys, Mari, Melita, Nolwenn, Oanez, Prostlon, Rimoet, Rozenn, Yuone.

Male Names (Flemish)

Abelkijn, Alard, Albertus, Amilius, Andreas, Arend, Arnulphus, Baldwin, Bartholomeus, Bernart, Bertoldus, Clais, Conrad, Daniel, Dodo, Elias, Engelbert, Eustacius, Everart, Florens, Frederik, Gerart, Gerrit, Ghyse, Gilis, Godefroy, Goesin, Hanne, Henric, Herman, Hugh, Jacob, Jan, Johannes, Kerstiaen, Klaas, Laurens, Lubertus, Lucas, Ludolf, Martin, Mattheus, Michiel, Nicolaus, Olyer, Otto, Pauels, Philips, Pieter, Reiner, Robert, Rodolf, Rutger, Segher, Sois, Stephen, Symon, Thieman, Thomas, Volkard, Wellin, Wilhelmus, Willem, Wouter, Ysebrand.

Female Names (Flemish)

Aghete, Agnes, Alene, Alijt, Alisa, Annen, Aue, Auesote, Bela, Bata, Beatrix, Berta, Clemense, Elisabeth, Ermgart, Flore, Gele, Gertruid, Grieta, Haedwien, Heile, Helwigis, Hildegard, Iseburg, Johanna, Jute, Katrine, Kristine, Ligardis, Lisebette, Machteld, Marie, Matilde, Mabelie, Margareta, Mette, Nannen, Pernele, Reynildis, Sara, Siburg, Sophia, Sybillie, Tetta, Thedwi, Ude, Weindelmode, Yde, Ysabella.