AFAIK in this era which languages certain countries were to speak was still in the balance, I was wondering if that would be represented?
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I don't see what its role would be - the educated and the nobles would most like speak Latin and Latin-to-native interpretors weren't as rare as one might think. Even Latin-to-Arabic was widespread, if talking about the Mediterrenean. So I can't see language playing a large role in CKII.
I would probably you would only feel it in countries like england as in the original game you would see the culture change from anglo saxon to english due to the french influence of the normans. Maybe now as none of the 3 factions has already won you could see a nordic , germanic(anglo saxon) or the historical french influenced england.
The province "cultures" in CK1 were mostly interpreted to mean the language and customs of the local elites. Although it did not have the sophistication or linguistic rigor that nitpickers like Calgacus or you (Ralph) would demand from a medieval simulation 
Not all of them... "Millenium" by Tom Holland describes how Hugue Capet, king of France, travelled to Rome to see Emperor Otto (II? III?) and Otto humiliated him by speaking only Latin in Hugue's presence, which he knew Hugue did not speak. I'll look up what Holland's source for the episode was when I get home...
If even kings did not all speak Latin, I actually doubt it would be so common among the lower ranks of the aristocracy. They weren't all prodigies like Otto...
Yeah I even bet this will be the case if I know paradox correctly as this one of the favourite what if? scenario for scandinavians, the others are of course permanent nordic settlements in america and the swedish Rus managing to hold on to their russian empire.
This game will be so awesome !
But does this incident deserve a game mechanic of its own? Also, this was about the 990's. By the starts of CKII's time period, language differences might still be relevant enough to deserve some mention, but as time progresses, I don't think it would be much of an issue.
What exactly do you mean?
The languages we think of today weren't very well-defined at this point. Especially since most of the languages people look for simply did not exist as distinct entities. The Scandinavian languages, for example, were all basically the same in this period. Dutch was just a dialect of Low German.
Regardless this is how languages will probably be in the game: each province will have a language, and that language will be able to spread to neighboring provinces if the conditions are right. That sound good to you?
Nick
Can we get rid of this meme that nobles knew Latin? Nobles didn't know Latin unless they were specially trained (those being prepared for the church), and in most of the CK period knowledge of Latin would have been rare amongst them ... certainly outside Romance Europe.
What kind of game mechanic do you mean??
CK1 had no mechanics pertaining to communication difficulties.
My interpretation of the OP was that was basically what he meant. That languages were in flux and had not yet been defined, but I'm not really that knoweledgeable in regards to linguistic history. But whether he simply wants this as a flavour feature (which I'd be interested in) or as a mechanic and/or obstacle within the game, I don't know.
It does sound good! Bear in mind I never played CK, so I might just be misinterpreting how the game will function. I thought maybe having the same language could give a small modifier to chances of marriage, etc.
There will probably be culture groups since they've been in EU III and Vicky 2. Which means there'll be a Scandinavian culture group consisting of at least Swedish, Danish and Norwegian (even though 1066 Jutish and Geatish were still well existing cultures). Likewise there'd be Germanic, Celtic, French, Iberian culture groups consisting of sub- cultures.
However, as said, every little county had it's own lingua during this Time Period.
However, as said, every little county had it's own lingua during this Time Period.
What kind of game mechanic do you mean??
What I meant was a theoretical mechanic for CKII, not an already existing mechanic
Ah, ok
Would be fun for all those cunning linguists out there...
"Milord, a consonant shift has taken place in our provinces"
Would be fun for all those cunning linguists out there...
"Milord, a consonant shift has taken place in our provinces"
Ah, ok
Would be fun for all those cunning linguists out there...
"Milord, a consonant shift has taken place in our provinces"
Or even worse... The game suddenly shifts and everything changes to be written in Medieval South Germanic...
In CK1 the AI looked for brides in it's culture group.
There was no other diplomatic effect tho. That's in line with the period -- it's not like any particular anguage group stuck together.
Nick