The Voynich Ninja

Hello folks, I’d like to share some news with you guys. 

You may already be aware of it. An academic scientific board affiliated with the Turkish Cultural Research Institute, specializing in Old Turkish and Ottoman Turkish, has concluded that the Voynich Manuscript is written in Turkish. Their third article on the topic was published after being peer‑reviewed by two referees. Since the scientific evidence was presented in peer‑reviewed publications, no Old Turkic specialists have raised any objections to the findings. And since the first peer‑reviewed paper in 2023, no counter‑study has been produced to challenge or refute the results. The chair of this publication, Ahmet Bican Ercilasun, is the former president of the Turkish Language Association (TDK) and a professor at both Hacettepe University and Gazi University. Please see the published paper at the link. 

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Anyone can access or communicate with the institute through  (turkkulturu.org.tr)

Cheers!

(24-02-2026, 06:16 AM)msomturk@hotmail.com Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.An academic scientific board affiliated with the Turkish Cultural Research Institute, specializing in Old Turkish and Ottoman Turkish, has concluded that the Voynich Manuscript is written in Turkish. 

"written in Turkish"??  Could you please indicate where this conclusion is made — either in the referenced PDF or in another source?

I am not fluent in Turkish by any means, but the article appears to be largely speculative based on loose similarities and does not seem to provide evidence that would meet even basic standards of academic research to support that claim. There is no reasoned out translation of even a limited passage that is remotely convincing. That is a minimum to be expected of any claim to have solved what language or system the manuscript is written in. It is hardly surprising that the work has not raised objections --  there are dozens of theories surrounding the Voynich manuscript that are so poorly substantiated they receive no adverse attention.

I think this forum knows A. Ardıç quite well 

Nationalism and other types of identity politics should never be the foundation of a scientific theory.

Thank you msomturk@hotmail.com for sharing this paper from turkkulturu.org.tr about the Turkic manuscript.

Speaking just as an amateur Voynich‑manuscript hobbyist, I actually found some of the findings in the paper pretty convincing

As this is a peer‑reviewed academic paper, I’m sure the Voynich community will have something to say about it or challenge the findings—especially since the claims come from some of the highest levels of Turkish academia.

I believe any critique should be based on the findings themselves, not on the authors. That’s the only way the discussion stays productive and evidence‑driven.

Is this the same theory as the one Ardic & Co have presented previously?

(24-02-2026, 05:53 PM)joben Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Is this the same theory as the one Ardic & Co have presented previously?

Yes.

(24-02-2026, 09:27 AM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Thank you msomturk@hotmail.com for sharing this paper from turkkulturu.org.tr about the Turkic manuscript.

Is the old thread of this theory still relevant?
This message should be posted there.

(24-02-2026, 06:27 PM)Ruby Novacna Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

(24-02-2026, 09:27 AM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Thank you msomturk@hotmail.com for sharing this paper from turkkulturu.org.tr about the Turkic manuscript.

Is the old thread of this theory still relevant?
This message should be posted there.

It's still "News" though.  And publication of external articles is good to keep in one forum.  It can stil be linked from the relevant thread though.