4.2 Article

Deciphering the Voynich manuscript: propositions to unlock research

Journal

CRYPTOLOGIA
Volume 46, Issue 5, Pages 461-484

Publisher

TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
DOI: 10.1080/01611194.2021.1919944

Keywords

Hoax hypothesis; natural language hypothesis; research methodology; Voynich manuscript

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The Voynich Manuscript is a medieval book that has resisted decoding for over a century. New propositions and questions are put forward regarding the manuscript writing system and labels, leading to explanations of irregular letter forms and the broadening of the interpretation of labels. Theoretical implications of these findings call into question the validity of natural language hypothesis.
The Voynich Manuscript is a medieval book, whose text has continuously resisted decoding efforts for more than a century. First, propositions are made to insure a good overall quality of research about this manuscript. Next, two common assumptions, correspondingly about the manuscript writing system and the presence of labels, are questioned. As a result, a certain number of irregular forms of letters are pointed out and tentatively explained; and labels are found to be sometimes widespread words or refer to different objects (plants, stars horizontal ellipsis ). Theoretical implications of such empirical findings are discussed, and call into question the validity of natural language hypothesis.

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