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| A Universal Template |
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Posted by: HermesRevived - 04-05-2024, 09:06 PM - Forum: News
- Replies (29)
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Further adventures in templates for Voynichese.
We can create a 12 x 12 matrix from only two words, set in cycles, with a few simple rules, that will accommodate any Voynich word whatsoever. In fact, any portion of Voynichese, necessarily so.
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| A commercial project aimed at women from high society |
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Posted by: amelkin - 04-05-2024, 03:34 PM - Forum: Provenance & history
- Replies (13)
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In the 15th century in Upper Bavaria, something unusual was happening in high circles. The unfortunate medieval Bavarian duchesses were forced to annually bring an heir to the duke, turning into a "maternity machine". Their life could have become unbearable if not for one circumstance. The court physician Johannes Hartlieb, together with other court specialists, developed a commercial project aimed at women from high society - a series of "Voynich Manuscripts" - sophisticated hoaxes. These manuscripts did not use a cipher, but an imitation of a cipher, and the five pieces of the extant manuscript differ from each other lexically, and this clearly indicates that there were several manuscripts, and they were used as a sales tool. Lacking sufficient education in the field of astrology, alchemy and medicine, the duchesses nevertheless became interested in sessions of white magic, for which strange manuscripts were ideally suited. For ladies it was great entertainment, and for court doctors, balneologists, herbalists, advisers, writers and poets it was a source of good income. The duchesses, who conducted sessions of white magic in various Bavarian castles, predicted the fate of the ladies and gave recommendations on how to achieve "happiness", and the doctors and other specialists, for an appropriate fee, wrote out prescriptions and referrals, gave advices, composed "magic" poems, compiled individual horoscopes, etc. And now, 600 years after it was written, the Voynich Manuscript continues to bring income for scientists, publishers, filmmakers, bloggers, etc. I have identified the circle of possible authors of the Voynich Manuscript and its "victims". In the near future I will find evidence of the correctness of my theory. It is a pity that many castles and documents no longer exist.
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| Line Studies |
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Posted by: HermesRevived - 02-05-2024, 05:35 AM - Forum: Analysis of the text
- Replies (6)
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These posts are probably better put as a thread here.
Lines are more interesting than words. The observation that they may act as "functional units" in themselves makes them especially worthy of investigation.
This is the first in a series of proposed LINE STUDIES where I will examine discrete lines of text. The first is line 5 from f25r. The line in question is:
qotcheaiin.dchain.cthain.daiin.daiin.cthain.qotaiin-
It is a noteworthy line in which every word has the same suffix.
The study can be found here:
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R.B.
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| New book by Ianus van Altrideicktus |
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Posted by: degaskell - 30-04-2024, 11:14 PM - Forum: Theories & Solutions
- Replies (20)
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I recently received an email advertisement for a new self-published book by Ianus van Altrideicktus claiming a Voynich solution (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.). I have not read the actual book, but the synopsis is not particularly promising: yet another abbreviated-Latin solution based on "multiple glyph renderings", yielding text fragments but no published complete translation. Still, worthy of at least a mention on this forum.
Ianus van Altrideicktus Wrote:This book invites the reader on an adventurous journey into an uncharted realm of cryptology history through the decryption of the Holy Grail of codebreakers, the Voynich manuscript. The solution invokes multiple glyph renderings including both letters and abbreviations based on medieval Latin writing traditions. This way, the Voynich text constitutes a mixed polyphonic and shorthand cipher. Based on some insightful analogies from materials science and quantum mechanics, a context-propagation-based approach was developed toward decryption. With the help of this method, numerous Voynich sentences and text segments were deciphered. These are presented through three chapters in the book, and the first Voynich-Latin vocabulary is also provided therein. These discoveries explain its puzzling statistical-linguistic features and also why the Voynich code resisted the previous decryption attempts. Furthermore, the solutions and interpretations included in the book constructively resolve the apparent controversies that emerged during the century-long history of Voynich research.
In search of the Voynich author(s), the book also presents the discovery and decryption of some concealed ciphers in Leon Battista Alberti’s Hypnerotomachia Poliphili (also providing explicit evidence of his authorship), Johannes Trithemius’ Steganographia, and John Dee’s Enochian texts. Some of these non-local, polysemic ciphers turned out to be related to each other. Through the shocking decrypted contents, the reader can also get acquainted with the alchemical and black magical pursuits of cryptographer giants Leon Battista Alberti, Johannes Trithemius, and John Dee, who are also identified as the most likely contributors to the Voynich manuscript.
Besides, the book offers a solution to a concealed riddle of painter Jan van Eyck, a contemporary of Alberti. This decrypted content appears pivotal in the understanding of the painter’s clandestine pursuits. The presented multidisciplinary studies, along with numerous contemplative photographs, reflect the dualistic, magic-filled world of these Renaissance cryptographer magi. This book can serve as a reference work for amateur and professional cryptologists, historical linguists, scholars, art historians, and can certainly count on the interest of the general public as well.
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| Your video ideas, suggestions, requests... |
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Posted by: Koen G - 29-04-2024, 04:32 PM - Forum: Voynich Talk
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As you may have noticed, I started making videos again. I decided to call the series "Voynich talk", both because it describes the contents well, and as a nod to this (sub)forum. I have a few ideas for videos I'd like to make, but I'm also curious for your requests and ideas. These could be:
- Interviews; I stepped away from an "interviews only" structure, but of course they will still be part of the series. Getting the views of specialists who usually don't post on forums remains one of the goals. It will probably help if I make some decent videos first, so they know I'm not crazy.
- A subject you'd like to see/hear someone explain or talk about. For example, when Rene's new language classification system is on point, I'd like to talk to him again about that.
- Anyone from the forum or outside who would like to tell me about a Voynich-related or adjacent topic they are passionate about, new research they are conducting...
- Some other form, like a debate, a review...
- ...
So really anything you can think of that would make a good video.
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| Axial Symmetry in Lines |
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Posted by: HermesRevived - 28-04-2024, 11:30 PM - Forum: Analysis of the text
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At least one of the patterns we find in lines of Voynich text is axial symmetry.
It is easy to detect. Counting words, we find the midpoint of the line and then look for any symmetries either side of that axis, such symmetries being palindromic.
The method is suggested by the (notable) red-line text on f67r. In EVA:
sshey syshees qeykeey ykchey ykchey qokeochy oaiin okalar ol??
The line displays pronounced axial symmetry, and while the rubricated text is much discussed I do not know of any studies drawing attention to this.
I discuss it on my blog here:
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In short, the central words are:
qeykeey ykchey --- ykchey qokeochy
And either side of that we find a contrast between [s] words and [o] words, thus:
sshey syshees
qeykeey ykchey
ykchey qokeochy
oaiin okalar ol??
Alerted by this important line of text, we then investigate whether this phenomenon is widespread.
Turning to the very first line of text in the manuscript, we find another case of it.
fachys.ykal.ar.ataiin.shol.shory.cthres.y.kor.sholdy-
In the case of the red text the axis (midpoint) of the line displays a duplication of the word [ykchey]. On this first line of text, at the midpoint we find two similar words: [shol] and [shory].
It is hard to detect any further symmetries, but there are some important ones.
[ykal] and [y.kor] offer a symmetry involving the gallows [k].
Then we notice the same symmetry in the glyph [t] – there is a [t] glyph either side of the axis.
Thus we have this palindromic pattern:
K T shol – shory T K
Moreover, note how the glyph [a] is only found on the left side of the axis (i.e. the first half of the line):
fachys.ykal.ar.ataiin.
shol.shory.
cthres.y.kor.sholdy-
This is the same type of pattern that we find in the red text line, albeit less conspicuous.
Symmetries of all sorts might arise by chance, of course, but the red text on You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. suggests constructed patterns. (Arguably, as some speculate, this red text might be some sort of key.)
* * *
Another example:
Line 4 from f30v:
chotchol.daiin.cthol.doiin.daiin.chokeor.dal.chtoithy-
Eight words. The axis is after [doiin].
Here we find the symmetry of [doiin] and [daiin].
From this point another pattern emerges. The initial glyphs of words run in alternations of [ch] and [d]:
chotchol.daiin.cthol.doiin.
daiin.chokeor.dal.chtoithy-
In this case there is no obvious pattern to the gallows glyphs, but there is to word initial glyphs. Thus:
CH D CH DOIIN – DAIIN CH D CH
* * *
Another example of axial symmetry of initial glyphs:
<f94v.P.5;H>
tedain.chedy.qokshd.okchdy.
qokeal.chorchor.tchor.am-
Axial Symmetry:
t ch q o q ch t
Notice here, though, that the final word [am] does not participate. By observation, it seems that in some cases it is necessary to overlook the final word (or particle) in order to locate the actual central point of symmetry.
* * *
Some cases can be found of lines that are starkly palindromic such as this short line:
<f35r.P.6;H>
schaiin.char.chan.daiin-
schaiin.char. ---- chan.daiin-
Here is another simple case:
<f35v.P.13;H>
ol.char.od.ar.chear
ol.char.
od.
ar.chear
As with the red text line, the symmetry here is more obvious in Voynich script because it involves certain visual elements. That is, there is symmetry of units that look the same or similar.
* * *
Another case, this time from the B Text:
<f103r.P.29;H>
qokechchy.shokeey.qochey.qokeey.
chal.chedy=
We break this up as:
qokechchy.
shokeey.
qochey.
qokeey.
chal.chedy
The symmetry here involves the doubled [ch] in the first word:
ch-ch - shokeey -- qochey -- qokeey - ch - ch
* * *
Here is a line from 58v that displays axial symmetry in the central words:
<f58v.P2.36;H>
olkeey.okar.ar.choky.otair.otol.chokey.
cheeky.dalar-
choky.otair.--- otol.chokey.
Before and after this we find words suggesting serial repetition:
olkeey.okar.ar
cheeky dalar
In any case, once again we see the usefulness of locating the centre of the line for exposing structural symmetries.
* * *
Here is a strongly palindromic formation, conspicuous because of two instances of triple [eee] at the midline.
<f16r.P2.6;H>
oshaiin.dyky.oeees.deeeod.aiin.dtoaiin-
The symmetry is:
AIIN - EEE - EEE - AIIN
* * *
These are enough examples to demonstrate the phenomenon. Assuredly, many lines show no much patterns, but many do, including the red text on 67r. Can we demonstrate deliberate patterns beyond what might arise accidentally, evidence of some orgasnisational process?
I hope to provoke some discussion of LINES from this viewpoint - axial symmetry (palindromic configurations, mirroring) and the midline point, and the possibility that at least some lines are organised on a central axis.
In many lines it seems there are a series of variants, or different ways of writing the same word: in some cases this process might be organised around a central pivot.
R.B.
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| Some contrarian views on transcription |
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Posted by: kckluge - 28-04-2024, 07:35 AM - Forum: Analysis of the text
- Replies (3)
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* Contrarian view #1: Don't bother sweating the "weirdos".
Having built scripts to convert both the L-Z EVA-based transcription and the v101 transcription to the Currier alphabet, my recollection is that the fraction of glyphs for which there is not an unambiguous Currier equivalent (at least with regard to the running text in the initial herbal quires and the bio section) is roughly half a percent. I'll double check, but I'm pretty sure that's right (which is not to say that the transcriptions agree with each other at that level). That means "basic EVA"/Currier/just the vanilla ASCII bits of v101 captures roughly 199 out of every 200 glyphs. That should be good enough to read the text (if there is a text to read) -- and if it's not, then I would argue that there's no point in worrying about it.
To be clear, this is a pragmatic claim not a theoretical one. If the question is "is it possible that reading the text requires capturing every nuance of every 'weirdo' in the text?", then I have to agree that yes, abstractly it is possible. The text could be generated in some way that has some kind of state such that unless we capture all the weirdos we'll fail in trying to read it. I don't think I've ever seen anyone make a compelling case that the bulk statistics of the text make that likely, but it's possible.
Pragmatically, if that's the case then I think that without some additional side channel of information -- finding a "bilingual" document enabling a known plaintext attack, for instance -- we might as well throw in the towel. Which makes investing large amounts of effort in encoding "weirdos" (as opposed to just marking them with something like the Currier alphabet's '*' "here be a dragon" character) an unproductive use of time. Which means "basic EVA"/Currier/just the vanilla ASCII bits of v101 should be good enough.
That's not the same thing as saying that there isn't room for argument over whether "basic EVA" (for instance) is capturing the right equivalence classes of groups of ink strokes. I've seen people claim that whether an 'a' is closed at the top or not matters, for example -- but that's a different issue.
* Contrarian view #2: For the sake of all that's good and bright and beautiful in the universe, can we please, please, please stop using EVA?
While I have never loathed EVA with the blazing white-hot passionate hatred that Glen Claston did (and anyone who thinks I'm exaggerating can go read his Voynich mailing list remarks on the subject), I just don't see the argument for "why EVA?". Granting the premise that there is value in an "analytic" transcription that is neutral about how to read the ligatured gallows or word-final i*<x> sequences, I fail to see why EVA is that transcription -- and in particular, I see no reason to prefer it to Frogguy (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.):
1) I have never understood the virtue of prioritizing making the transcription pronounceable over visual resemblance to the script. I mean, sure, a 'd' kind of looks like an '8' with the upper loop squished, and a 'y' kind of looks like a '9' without a closed top loop, and a 'q' kind of looks like a '4' written by someone who hates corners, but...why? According to You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. it's to help make common words easy to recognize and remember. I suppose this is one of those "your mileage may vary" things.
2) In fact, the pronounceability of EVA has had the unfortunate effect of a non-trivial number of naive newcomers to MS 408 thinking there is actual significance to the phonetic values in the EVA transcription scheme. I realize that the people behind EVA didn't intend that to be the case, and are explicit in various places in making clear it isn't, but if someone just grabs a transcription file without "reading the manual" that doesn't help.
3) The clear advantage of Frogguy is that the learning curve is truly minimal. The gallows, for example, are 'lp', 'qp', 'lj', and 'qj' -- and anyone who has seen the actual text should immediately grok which is which...
4) As Rene says on the page referenced above, "It is very important to point out that Eva is not attempting to identify semantic units in the text. It simply represents in an electronic form the shapes that are seen in the MS. It is left to a later step by analysts to decide which combinations should be seen as units." If you're going to have to transform the transcription to do meaningful analysis anyways, why not do it from something that maximizes the fluency of transcription with a lower learning curve (and probably lower transcription error rate)?
I think that's probably enough of me being a curmudgeon for the evening...
Karl
(PS, coming soon -- the Midsomer Murders MS 408-themed fanfic you never realized you needed. When a visitor researching a possible connection between Midsomer and the mysterious Voynich manuscript is found murdered at a Voynich-inspired spa & herbal treatment center, Winter and Barnaby have to decode the killer's motive before there are more deaths. How many more victims will die before they succeed in...Deciphering Murder?)
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