and created the first systematic orthography of Old High German. Latin and German he commanded with equal fluency; and while he did not understand Greek, he was weak enough to pretend that he did. He put an enormous amount of learning and erudition into his commentaries on his translations. Much may be found that was of interest in his time, philosophy, universal and literary history, natural science, astronomy. He frequently quotes the classics and the Fathers of the Church. It is characteristic of Notker that at his dying request the poor were fed, and that he asked to be buried in the clothes which he was wearing in order that none might see the heavy chain with which he had been in the habit of mortifying his body. References Sources Schoolmasters of the Tenth Century. Cora E. Lutz, Archon Books (1977). Notker l'Allemand (French), in the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. 950s births 1022 deaths Year of birth uncertain German Roman Catholics 10th-century mathematicians 11th-century mathematicians German Benedictines German Christian monks Medieval linguists German music theorists Monks at Saint Gall German translators German male non-fiction writers 10th-century German writers 11th-century German writers Medieval German mathematicians 11th-century translators 10th-century Latin writers 11th-century Latin writers