Re: Voynich research needs

[sjm <sethm@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, Aug 22, 2000 at 03:58:45PM -0400, Jason Morningstar wrote:
[...]
> I hope this post sparks a general discussion of "work to be done", and I
> would particularly value any opinion or advice on areas that would both
> advance our understanding of the VMS and fall within the scope of a
> semester- or year-long graduate project.  
> 

I personally feel that the single most useful research tool we could have
is a very high quality color photographic reproduction of the manuscript.
We have discussed this matter to death in the past, even rather heatedly,
but it never hurts to revisit it in summary.

Second to that is a good quality combined interlinear text version of
the existing transcriptions.  Much of this work has already been done,
thanks to the dedicated efforts of several list members.

Unfortunately, the group still seems to be banging its collective
head against the wall.  I may be echoing Jacques Guy's complaints,
but it seems that we have got nowhere, though certainly not for lack of
dedication or hard work.  It seems logical that one of three possible
conditions is true:  Either that we're all missing something very
important which is right in front of our noses, or that we lack some
vital piece of the puzzle without which we are lost, or that there is
no answer to be had and the manuscript is a hoax.  I'm increasingly of
the opinion that the last is true, but I'm certainly not convinced.

At any rate, fresh eyes looking at the problem can never hurt.
Welcome to the discussion, and good luck!

> Thanks and best regards, 
> 
> Jason

-Seth Morabito