Discussion of Yulia May's proposed solution

[Searcher]

There are more than three shapes that correspond to real Latin abbreviations...

• The three Latin abbreviations -ris -tis and -cis are used frequently at the ends of words in the VMS (as they are in Latin), throughout the document. The distinction between -ris and -tis is not always clear in the VMS (although in some places it is) but the distinction between -cis and -tis/-cis is quite clear and distinct.
  
• In Latin, the cap abbreviation is frequently used to represent -er- -ir- -re- -ri- or -r- and is used in a similar way in other languages but means different things in those languages.
  
• The line across/above the letters is sometimes used in the VMS (very infrequently, but it is there).
  
• In a few places the 9 is superscripted (whether by the main hand or another hand is unclear) which more often in Latin is -os or -us rather than -um, -cum, etc.
  

The glyph you interpreted as – s, us, os, as (l) is not the correct shape in Latin for those abbreviations.

The glyph you interpreted as - s, is, as, es, s(o) (EVA-s) is sometimes used to represent con in both Latin and Spanish when it stands alone and in the VMS, this shape frequently stands alone. In other words, it frequently has a different meaning in Latin when it is alone compared to when it is part of other words.

Searcher wrote: You won't know if you don't try yourself. I think this is the best way to check my theory and to make a decision whether it could be or couldn't.

I have tried by myself. I've known these Latin abbreviations for years. I have blogged about them and mentioned them frequently on the forum. Years ago I tried expanding them to create a Latin translation but the STRUCTURE of the VMS "grammar" and the construction of the words is not consistent with Latin conventions.


Here is what I feel is one of the essential tenets of the VMS that is overlooked by many trying to decode it... even if the letter frequency can be interpreted to be similar to Latin (or other languages), the POSITION of the glyphs in the words is very specific and not consistent with natural language. There's no question that the shapes in the VMS are Latin abbreviation shapes that are positionally similar (intentionally so), but that does not mean the intervening text follows natural language patterns for frequency when you also consider the rigidity of the position of the letter-shapes.

The same abbreviations concepts/shapes can be applied to other languages or, alternately, the same shapes can be used for other purposes with the result that the text LOOKS like Latin without necessarily being Latin.

Actually, I meant not abbreviations themself, but their meaning. Yes, there are many characters which look likewise usual Latin abbreviation, but signify another abbreviations, as I think. y in the end of a word replaces -um, -am, -em, but not -os or -us as in Latin abbreviations. It seems not to be necessary to coincidence with real meanings. Only principle of abbreviations is common for usual Latin texts and the VMs text. Perhaps, some endings in my interpretation are incorrect, so I'll be glad to know what is correct  in specific cases. I chose -um/-am/-em for the ending y as it is most freguent ending in the manuscript, on my opinion, it can't be -us or -os.
As well, I mean trying and checking of my own theory with my method to see what result you will get. Maybe, I missed something, therefore I need a good inspector.

In addition, what do you (any member)  think about my interpretation of the first paragraph on the f1r:

Fer eum, si cum cras ratione commeritorum
Chaos temporum aperies cum genitore.
Compositum sonorum accurare oro,
cum graditur, apertorem hortor
Notas (latior) aperire apertura
De rebus, scrutatator1, caecum, oro
Concreturum compote vaporiarum
habeas, de ratione rotarum
sequi tenturum in pium luminar,
horoscopum habiturire de rotarum
incertarum hora, incertum sortitur-cum
aurora aperturum, inauratione exerturum.

1 – scrutatator  –  scrutator (nomen).

As well, the first paragraph on the f86v3:

Beatum  procatum1
perlaetam pronoeam
re rotarum os inviem
procreaturum solidatum
cuneatum perlevem
opertiore velatum
commeritatem parum
certarum peritarum
commeritarum,
commeritarum,
commeritarum
ratione rara comperiar
rudus concreturum
proitum3 pro re rotarum
cambium4 ratione rotarum
rore rudus concieam
properaturam ideam
como-evenire commeritatem
libertatem  comperatam
traditibus suis rutorum
hubique5 concretorum
concreturum iterare
ratione rotarum
sortitum commeriturum
comperilem6 lituum
diverse traditione
commeritas sonare
ruditatem nimium opertare

1 – procatum – provocatum, procitum, obsecratio.
2 – pronoea – providentia.
3 – proitum – praeitum (v. l.).
4 – cambium – in English – exchange.
5 – hubique – ubique (v. l.).
6 – comperilem – possibly, comparilem.
? – a questionable word.
* - I couldn't find an exact and clear interpretation for these words, I consider them two-in-one words for now and leave them in the present state.

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Yulia, does your method also work on plant labels? For example the f 89v foldout? It's the part of the MS I'm most familiar with, so it would be interesting to see what you make of it. Also, it's a good way to test to what extent the text would actually match the imagery. If the labels for a row of plants turn out to translate as "sock, forbid, uncle", it will be clear that there is either no link or an extremely symbolic one

Koen and Anton!
I don't know what to do with the labels of stars and plants. If it is in Latin, it seems they can't be names of those: too different endings between words in a group of labels. I can't interprete some of them for now. After all, I assume that they are sentences written in such way to play role of labels.
My quick decoding of the upper row of label on the f89+:

Omnigenus

Inclusum et ........ium? (perhaps, two words-in-one) alienatur libratione (operatione) errandum (rorandum, retornatum) incaveam? pergens lustratos oppositum ratione rara alteratorum intentorum tensum lineales rotas est-ros (sors?) natorum (notarum, latorum) luens in favore

Perhaps, it must be represented separately, if it is just a beginning of the text of every page. For example, part "Inclusum et ........ium? (perhaps, two words-in-one) alienatur libratione (operatione) errandum (rorandum, retornatum)" may be beginning of the text below it. I didn't check it yet. Pittance of time.

Anton, "retornare vivam" = I will live to return, "retornare novam" = may I renovate to return, "retornare ineam" = may I enter (begin) to return"