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[proto57]

@Rich

How or what do you even think about the VM text?

A painstakingly developed system or just nonsense.



There are indications of a system which also suggests the language.

I really don't have a firm opinion on this issue of meaning or not. Well maybe slightly swayed toward no meaning.

I think the studies, so far, are inconclusive to resolving this question. But I think that upcoming studies may shed more light on what the structures seen in the Voynich may tell us.

I do think that if it has meaning, it may be encoded in some steganographic system, which would then account... or allow for... the massive repetition we observe, and not rely on the word nor sentence structure. I do not think that it can be simple substitution, because of that repetition: The results would also be so repetitive, and therefore nonsensical (which is why all the "systems" which allow for subjective substitution of characters, and sometimes multiple languages, or pronunciations, all of which "allow" a solution without said repetition).

I don't think it can be any type of transposition, as the observed "word" structure would be broken up.

But I also like the idea of "machine generated" random text, such as that proposed by Gordon Rugg. I also think some sort of numerical code might have been used, such as the Selenus Numerical Cipher (really published by him in 1624, I think it may be a Trimethius cipher?): You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. Such a system would allow for the repetition and the "word" structure.

But one thing to note is a very surprising error made on the part of many of the "new breed" of researchers: Meaning does not mean "genuine". There have been papers, lectures, blogs, and many comments, all which are based on the erroneous misconception that if meaning in the Voynich can be proven, then "therefore" it is genuine. Of course this mistake can be quickly corrected by listing even a handful of forgeries with meaning, such as the Howard Hughes will; the Diary of Hitler; the Protocals of the Elders of Zion; the Autobiography of Shakespeare; the White Salamander letter; the Oath of Freeman... I could go on, and anyone reading this can think of many more cases of this. Oh, the Vinland Map, of course...

And there are fewer cases of meaningless genuine items, but they do exist. And the Voynich, as many wonder, and if genuine, could have gibberish as content, only there to fool some people into thinking the possessor has some arcane and valuable knowledge, that only they can impart.

If was being forced to bet a million dollars on one case or the other, I think I would have to say "no" there is no meaning. But I would immediately break into a panic, because I also think it very possible it does.

TLDR: I don't know, and have no strong opinion either way.

What do you think? And if it does have meaning, what do you think that meaning might be?

Rich.