10-10-2018, 12:41 PM
Newcomers often wonder why so few specialists in disciplines vital to manuscript studies will participate in, or have any association with 'Voynich studies'.
One reason, I think, is that specialists immediately become aware of a general air of outmoded assumptions and theoretical bases where their own discipline is involved - e.g. the 'Voynich' habit of trying to talk in terms of 'national' characters and national boundaries in a way which implies a level of exclusivity inappropriate to our period. Another example, which I've tried to protest for nearly a decade, is the seemingly entrenched (but anachronistic) assumption that literalism is a 'natural' default when discussing images in the Vms - a fault especially pronounced in discussions of the botanical images.
Anyway, about Palaeography..
These days it is recognised that to describe or provenance a script, one needs to take cultural, historical and other factors into account. It's not just a question of classifying something as Secretarial, or Gothic and so on. Such terms as 'German l' sound ok to an amateur but a specialists' teeth are likely to be set on edge (sort of thing).
The good news is this: Litteragothica has begun a series of posts on this subject. I'll add a link to the first installment.
You'll find that the posts are fairly short, full of solid material, and with really excellent sources for deeper study - if you want it.
Kindest regards to all who labour in the field.
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One reason, I think, is that specialists immediately become aware of a general air of outmoded assumptions and theoretical bases where their own discipline is involved - e.g. the 'Voynich' habit of trying to talk in terms of 'national' characters and national boundaries in a way which implies a level of exclusivity inappropriate to our period. Another example, which I've tried to protest for nearly a decade, is the seemingly entrenched (but anachronistic) assumption that literalism is a 'natural' default when discussing images in the Vms - a fault especially pronounced in discussions of the botanical images.
Anyway, about Palaeography..
These days it is recognised that to describe or provenance a script, one needs to take cultural, historical and other factors into account. It's not just a question of classifying something as Secretarial, or Gothic and so on. Such terms as 'German l' sound ok to an amateur but a specialists' teeth are likely to be set on edge (sort of thing).
The good news is this: Litteragothica has begun a series of posts on this subject. I'll add a link to the first installment.
You'll find that the posts are fairly short, full of solid material, and with really excellent sources for deeper study - if you want it.
Kindest regards to all who labour in the field.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.