Analysis and Possible Translation of the Voynich Manuscript: Phonetic and Linguistic Study of Page 78, "The Goat," and Herbal Folios

This paper presents a preliminary attempt to approach the deciphering of the Voynich Manuscript, with primary attention given to page 78 and the folio known as “The Goat,” and later extended to include three herbal pages. The analysis suggests that the text may be written in an existing language, possibly Basque in its archaic forms, represented phonetically and through a script in which ordinary letters were replaced by unfamiliar symbols. Methodologically, the study identifies vowels and recurring letter patterns and tests them against Basque vocabulary, producing partial matches that point to structural consistency. Additional fragments suggest blending with Old French, Castilian, Gascon, and Latin, reflecting the multilingual environment of late medieval Navarre. Beyond isolated lexical matches, the study emphasizes the role of phonetic transcription, unstable orthography, and hybrid Basque–Romance forms. The ritual-like folios display repetitive, chant-like structures, while the herbal section corresponds to descriptive plant entries, referring to stems, joints, sap, bitterness, and medicinal qualities. Although the translations remain incomplete and provisional, the results provide linguistic leads and structural insights that may serve as a basis for further philological and contextual research. The study argues that the manuscript is less likely to represent an invented language, but rather a distorted record of existing speech and knowledge, intentionally obscured through phonetic variation and an unfamiliar script. This version additionally includes Updated Translation Notes, written as a continuation of the research rather than a replacement of earlier sections. These notes present new methodological refinements and interpretative insights, while the original readings remain preserved for reference and comparison. For feedback or questions, contact: [email protected]