Re: The Hoax Theory (was: VMs: Codex Seraphinianus...?)

[Dennis <tsalagi@xxxxxxxx>]

Good question.  Autism, anyone?

I've done some work in the past on the question of
whether the VMs author was someone with a psychiatric
disorder.  In general, I've found nothing specific for
or against.  The creative process seems about the same
in such people as in "normal" people.  Schizophrenic
speech is distinctive, but not Voynichese.  

This note regarding the VMs from Sergio Toresella's
paper on alchemical herbals is interesting:"

>     "47.  The phenomenon of invented languages is very widespread and
> represents a fundamental aspect of some mental pathologies.  For an
> approach to the problem see: S. ARIETE, *Creativita`. La Sintesi
> magica*, Roma 1986.  A. BAUSANI, *Le Lingue inventate. Linguaggi
> artificiali -linguaggi segreti- linguaggi universali*, Roma, 1974.
> And the recent B. BUONARROTI & P. ALBANI, *Aga Mage'ra Difura.
> Dizionario delle lingue immaginarie*, Bologna 1994."

I've looked at ARIETE; he did much work on
schizophrenia.  He gives one or two examples of
"languages" invented by schizophrenics, but these
apparently comprised just a few words.  No one has
talked about what might be in BAUSANI or BUONARROTI &
ALBANI, although Jim Reeds said he had seen a German
version of BAUSANI.  

If anyone has seen BAUSANI or BUONARROTI & ALBANI, I'd
sure like to hear about it!

Dennis
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