Critique wanted
KJ now > 6 hours ago
Title: POLER-D Method: Transparent Translation Framework from a Curious Independent
Hello everyone,
I’d like to take a moment to share the methodology I’ve been developing and refining over time. A phonetic (oral) framework I call POLER-D, short for Phonetic-Oral Linguistic Encoding Reconstruction-Diachronic variant. Recently I began posting translation snippets and findings from this process over on X (Twitter) under @VoynichUnleash for critique, but wanted to offer an overview here on Voynich Ninja. Both for transparency and to welcome any feedback from those more experienced in historical linguistics, cryptography, or manuscript studies.
First and foremost this isn’t a commercial venture, nor a gimmick. I’m not selling anything. I’m driven by deep curiosity and respect for the mystery of the Voynich Manuscript. I believe it's good to explore any method (however unconventional) that helps unlock the possible history within it. I understand that skepticism is healthy and necessary, and I welcome it. But I also want to be clear that this is not a “solved it” post. This method is a work in progress, and one that has already challenged many of my own original assumptions. In fact, most of my early theories have been overturned through application and cross testing. I’m not afraid of being wrong, but it would be a shame not trying.
What Is POLER-D?
POLER-D is built around the idea that the Voynich Manuscript uses a disguised phonetic encoding system. Drawing from spoken (and often unwritten or drifted) dialects from Northern and Eastern Europe and nearby regions as they existed after 1300AD.
Here’s how it works:
We begin with EVA (European Voynich Alphabet) transcriptions of the manuscript text. Then carefully align with standardized formats available in public datasets.
Each word is then broken down phonetically, not visually, using oral sounding reconstructions as if the scribe was encoding sound, not meaning.
For example:
shedy > skaidan / skēd (Germanic root: to speak)
kai > kaido / kaijan (Baltic: keeper/guardian)
chol >chwal / sol (Slavic/Hebrew: soul)
From there, we test drifted linguistic matches against known post-1300 forms in a selected group of languages (listed below), adjusting for diachronic shifts.
We also match results against imagery on the same folios like plants, figures, cosmological diagrams, etc. This is not cherry picking, it's about whether what we decode reflects what we see.
Each translation is checked against a stable pool of phonetic and written languages, with no additions unless justified. Results that don’t fit are discarded or flagged for review.
Languages We Use (Post-1300 Parameter Tightening)
To avoid the common pitfall of “too many possible matches,” we’ve restricted POLER-D to languages and dialects that were actively spoken or transitioning after 1300, including:
Proto-Germanic derivatives: Middle High German, Old Norse, Old Saxon
Celtic: Gaulish remnants, Middle Welsh, Irish phonetics (oral influence)
Slavic: Old Church Slavonic, Old Czech, Old Polish
Romance: Vulgar Latin, Middle French, Occitan, Italian dialects
Greek: Koine and transitional forms
Hebrew: Classical/Biblical Hebrew (as a known scholarly base)
Finnic/Uralic: Karelian, Hungarian
Latin alphabet: All reconstruction uses era-consistent Latin script, no anachronisms
As a base study we tested historical languages throughout the world with POLER-D and none worked beyond the northern and eastern European tribal areas.
Note: Etruscan and other unrelated ancient scripts were excluded deliberately. This isn’t about guessing or using every ancient language. It’s about limiting our pool to reasonable cultural and temporal candidates. We continue shrink parameters when possible.
Current Findings
We’re seeing internal consistency across a number of tested folios. Including those from the herbal, cosmological, and so-called "recipes" sections. Some patterns emerging:
Ritual herbalism, not just plant identification, but instructions, applications, and contexts
Ritualistic bathing, including symbolic language around purification and preparation
Astronomical cycles, likely ritual calendar components tied to lunar or planetary phases
Hermetic influence, recurring themes of balance, fire/water opposites, ascension, and transformation
Interpretations match imagery surprisingly well so far. We continue to apply this method across random folios (e.g., f1r, f67r, f54r, etc.) to test for stability.
I’m documenting the process in real time, including changes as they happen, at @VoynichUnleash on X. You’ll find raw phonetic samples, before/after comparisons, and posts noting where translations are being adjusted. This is about open research, not a closed theory.
Sample Entry
Here’s a real breakdown using POLER-D from f1r:
EVA: otedy shedy laram ychor
POLER-D Phonetic: ot-ed-ē / skēd / lar-an / i-khor
Possible Translation: “To speak the flowing essence (divine fluid)”
Matched Imagery: A root based plant drawn as if exuding fluid, possibly used in ritual speech or invocation.
POLER-D is evolving. We expect some variation in future translations as our parameters improve and mistakes are corrected. But the method is holding strong so far under repeated tests. If you’re skeptical, that’s good. This project is self funded and critique is free.I welcome engagement, suggestions, and yes, critique. I’m not a credentialed linguist or cryptographer, just a persistent researcher who’s stumbled my way into a tool that appears to be uncovering something meaningful.
Now strongly suspected that the Voynich Manuscript was authored by multiple classically trained scribes, not a single individual. This theory is supported by earlier work from paleographers like Lisa Fagin Davis, who identified at least five distinct scribal hands based on letter formation, writing angles, and stylistic patterns across the manuscript. Our findings align with hers, subtle shifts in phrasing, vocabulary range, and glyph formation all suggest collaboration. These scribes likely shared training in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, but also picked up oral phonetic dialects through travel, allowing them to encode their knowledge in ways that reflected both elite training and folk wisdom.
We believe the Voynich Manuscript represents a collection of ritual practices, likely from preChristian or pagan traditions. Encoded not merely to protect “secrets,” but possibly to shield the content from persecution or prejudice. The use of a disguised phonetic script, rather than a true cipher, supports this idea. About 6 months ago AI was brought in to use to speed up the process and is now showing amazing potential. It took time to enter in all the parameters used, but once AI learned everything it began returning word by word and phrase by phrase to be assessed. I now feel it's a proper methodology to share on multiple platforms and began several days ago.This has been countless hrs spanning yrs of work prior to AI’s introduction. I want that to be cclear.i welcome all critique.
Thanks for reading,
KJ
(@VoynichUnleash on X)