Voynich Specialisation

[Mark Knowles]

There are many aspects to this, and in my opinion it's quite complex.

On the one hand, specialisation is useful. If someone spends every day reading up on the same topic, researching this topic, writing about it, teaching about it... They will achieve a level of understanding and proficiency that is hard to reach by a generalist. Therefore, I welcome every specialist opinion on or contribution to the study of the VM.

On the other hand though, the VM is also its own kind of specialty. It offers unique challenges in various fields, that require solutions which may not readily belong to the specialist's toolkit. It is possible that the VM can only be solved through a more wholistic approach, focusing on one aspect but being aware of the others.

Initially I was drawn entirely to the imagery, but I also felt the need to understand the text. I found that I could only do this by venturing well outside of my comfort zone, and also remaining aware that I was outside of my comfort zone. (The thread "Koen needs statistics advice" is probably still one of the larger ones on the forum).

There is another advantage to studying various aspects of the MS. As mentioned, I can really obsess over a small part (like the legs on a lobster, sleeves on a dress, the way two figures hold hands). This is good as preseverance may lead to results. But it can also help to do something completely different for a while (e.g. text statistics) to take some distance from the other subject (imagery) and be able to return to is as if you're somebody else reading it for the first time.

Yes, some general acquaintance with the Voynich manuscript can be useful. However one doesn't even need to have any knowledge or interest in the Voynich manuscript in order to make a significant contribution. For example, developing, a detailed and documented, comprehensive understanding of herbal manuscripts from around the time from which the Voynich dates could help advance Voynich research, without the researcher having any knowledge or interest in the Voynich. Likewise for developing a detailed knowledge of astrological texts of the time. Likewise for developing a detailed knowledge of cosmological texts of the time. Researching early 15th century cryptography in an indepth way has been a lot of work and I have definitely found things out not covered in existing literature. Specialised projects like these could really advance general knowledge. For example, I have studied Medieval Maps quite a bit, however I have not had the time reach the level of expertise in this topic that I would like as I have chosen another topic to specialise in.

Rather than having lots of generalists, we could have a few generalists and also specialists in the following fields:

1) Medieval Herbal manuscripts
2) Medieval Astrological manuscripts
3) Medieval Astronomical/Cosmological manuscripts
4) Medieval Cartography
5) Medieval Cryptography
6) Statistical Linguists(If that is the correct term)I guess Claire Bowern comes under this category.

And so on...

I think this would push Voynich research forward in a big way as collectively we would have an overall greater knowledge to bring to bear. There is an advantage in specialists having an overall basic familiarity with the Voynich.

If the Voynich is not deciphered any time soon I expected this specialisation will emerge naturally, but it could take some time for this to happen