Analysis and Possible Translation of the Voynich Manuscript: A Phonetic and Linguistic Study of Folio 78r, Folio 70v ("The Goat"), and Selected Herbal Folios

This study presents a structured attempt at deciphering the Voynich Manuscript, focusing on folio 78r (from the so-called balneological section depicting bathing women), folio 70v (the Zodiac Capricorn or “Goat” folio from the astrological section), and three herbal folios. The central hypothesis is that the text represents an existing language—most plausibly an archaic form of Basque—recorded phonetically and written with unfamiliar symbols in place of ordinary letters. The analysis combines identification of vowels and recurring letter patterns with systematic comparison to Basque vocabulary and morphology, yielding partial but consistent matches. Evidence also points to contact with Old French, Castilian, Gascon, and Latin, reflecting the multilingual environment of late medieval Navarre. The herbal folios align with descriptive plant entries typical of medieval herbals, mentioning stems, joints, sap, bitterness, and preparations such as decoctions. Folio 78r, usually interpreted as part of the balneological section, is here read as a description of water channels, basins, and flowing currents, consistent with the illustrations of bathing women. Folio 70v, traditionally identified with Capricorn in the zodiac cycle, is interpreted as a text describing cyclical or seasonal processes, in line with its astrological imagery. Although the translations remain provisional, the findings suggest that the manuscript is unlikely to represent an invented language. Instead, it may be a distorted record of existing speech and knowledge, intentionally obscured through phonetic variation and a disguised script. This version integrates methodological refinements and interpretive notes into the main text, while earlier draft material has been removed. The results provide linguistic leads, structural insights, and a testable framework that may serve as a foundation for further philological and contextual research. For feedback or questions, contact: [email protected]