The creators, Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, designed the show so that characters speak their native languages (German, English, French, Spanish, Cantonese, etc.) to reflect the European migrant crisis and cultural authenticity.
'1899' is a paradox of a thriller – and not in a good way - Cedars
1. Introduction
In 1899 , subtitles are used to plant "Easter eggs." Background whispers or translated text on technical monitors (like those seen in the simulation) often contain clues that only attentive subtitle-readers might catch. 5. Cultural Translation Strategies