VMs: Re: Qoteedy nine

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jacques,

> Let us grant that it _is_ a shorthand system. A shorthand
> system is a compression algorithm. The entropy of a compressed
> message is much greater than that of the same message,
> uncompressed (take a look at a zip file; if you like,
> uu-encode it and have MONKEY calculate its entropy).

Unless you know what is being written in the alphabet, statistics may not 
be completely helpful. For example, if (as I suspect) it is largely 
comprised of a *number system* (written in a kind of shorthand-stylised 
Roman numerals) with additional letters to decline/conjugate as 
appropriate, then it might very well have the kind of low entropy stats 
profile we've come to recognise.

> The entropy of the VMs is very low. Therefore, if it is
> a shorthand, the shorthand is hidden inside a low-entropy
> text--perhaps glossolalia.

Note that I use the word "shorthand" to also cover "tachygraphy" - a sample 
of tachygraphic material (with a small alphabet, but designed for speed of 
writing) would probably have similar statistical characteristics.

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling.....