VMs: Re: DIE WELTWOCHE

["John Stojko" <oko@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Christoph Neidhart" <neidhart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Voynich Ms. mailing list" <voynich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 9:24 PM
Subject: VMs: DIE WELTWOCHE


> Hello --

  Hi, Christoph!

>
> I'm preparing a feature for the leading Swiss weekly DIE WELTWOCHE
> on the Voynich-ms. Here are a few questions to the list:
>

> 1. Do people out there think a solution is imminent? Where will it come
> from?
>

 Yes. I do believe that I deciphered VMS. Why do I think so?
 In 1978 I published my amateurish book on that subject in which I give
decoded VMS alphabet. By using of my decoded alphabet and knowledge of the
language in which the manuscript is written (Ukrainian) one can read and
understand the whole manuscript.
In my Home Page  http://home.att.net/~oko/home.htm  ,introduction in Voynich
section, is given sample of my "brute-force" step-by-step decipherment.
If one is interested and knows Ukrainian language he can use method given in
my example to read and understand the whole manuscript.


> 2. How do people one get hooked on the Voynich? I saw some notions
> of terrible addiction.
>

 For me it was a challenge and opportunity to do something else than my
everyday work.


> 3. The list seems to be in a lull; does that mean people are frustrated?
>

 I do not think so. This group consists of linguistic enthusiasts
(amateurs). They do not adhere to the professional linguistic regiments. If
after while the approach is not working, new approach is initiated. No
"blurb" to higher authority is needed.  He/she is the authority.

> 4. How serious is the research that has been done lately?
>

 The research is serious. Many different approaches has been initiated and
investigated. Obviously, each person has his/her method of investigation.


> 5. Are there people out there who still think the ms. is a hoax?
>

 If there are I do not know. At one time in the past I was disappointed and
started to look for perpetrated hoax. By looking at the writing and the
pictures in VMS, it is easy to make such conclusion. Well-qualified writers
done the writing. The people that can write letters consistently and
beautifully should be able to draw better pictures than the ones in VMS.
This problem presented many questions without answers.
To answer my curiosity I decided to review the history of Czechoslovakia and
surrounding countries. By reading the history of that time he/she may make
different conclusion than my. My conclusion justified the funny pictures in
the VMS. I concluded that the pictures have nothing to do with the writing.
The pictures were made to deceive the true meaning of the writing. The
history shows that soon after the VMS was discovered and established that no
one can read, the religious war stopped.


> 5. Some people seem to lean toward the idea that its language is a
> monosyllabic East-Asian language such as Chinese or Vietnamese; what
> are the arguments and counter-arguments?
>
I do not know Chinese or Vietnamese hence I can not make comment.

> 6. Does the Voynich-community ever meet in the real world, or is this
solely
> an Internet-community? How many people are involved in the deciphering
> on a regular basis? Are you friends?
>
 I believe we all are friends on Internet. It does not mean we agree with
each other. Each of us has his/her own approach and opinion.


I wish you the best lack in your assignment.
     John Stojko


> Thank you very much for any reply
> Best
>
> Christoph Neidhart
> Visiting Scholar
> Davis Center for Russian Studies
> Harvard University
>