Motivation. Given the many spheres of interaction during the Middle Ages, from the home to the court of law, it is important to consider just how medieval individuals communicated. There are two important basic aspects to communication: the means and the substance. If there is a means of communicating, a person or groups of persons will receive for understanding a message passed or transmitted from another. If the message has meaning, it will upon receipt convey an idea or information of some sort. The imparting or transmitting of ideas and information from one person to another, and perhaps among persons separated in place and time, is therefore successful communication.

Talking and Telling. Talking was the main means of communication in the Middle Ages. With the rare exceptions of kings, chiefs, and Churchmen, a medieval's words could reach no further than his voice, but...