Die geheimen Geschichten mittelalterlicher Bilderhandschriften

What does “mündlichen Überlieferungen” mean in German?

The video explains the strange creatures in the margins of medieval books, then says these images were known to people “aus anderen Kunstformen und mündlichen Überlieferungen” — from other art forms and oral traditions. The point: before most people could read, knowledge moved by mouth — stories, songs, and sayings passed down out loud. So a unicorn or a fighting rabbit already meant something to viewers, even without a written caption.

Spoken line: “All diese Anspielungen waren mittelalterlichen Europäern aus anderen Kunstformen und mündlichen Überlieferungen bekannt.” — “All these references were familiar to medieval Europeans from other art forms and oral traditions.” It comes from two parts: “mündlich” = spoken, by mouth (not written), and “Überlieferung” = something handed down from the past. Together: knowledge passed on by speaking. More examples: - “Das Rezept wurde nur mündlich überliefert.” — “The recipe was handed down only by word of mouth.” - “Viele alte Lieder leben in mündlicher Überlieferung weiter.” — “Many old songs live on through oral tradition.” - “Diese Geschichte kennen wir nur aus mündlichen Überlieferungen.” — “We know this story only from oral traditions.” Usage notes: “mündlich” is the opposite of “schriftlich” (written). You often hear “mündliche Prüfung” (a spoken exam, not on paper). The “ü” sounds like the “ee” in “see” but with rounded lips; the final “-en” is a quick weak e sound.