26
$\begingroup$

User JellicleCat posted this on linguistics stackexhange a few years ago. None of us were able to come up with a satisfying answer but most seemed to agree that it was an idiosyncratic cipher or shorthand. It means that puzzlers may be better equipped to solve it than linguists.

Anyway, the original question was:

I've wondered about this script since I saw it years ago. I imagine it's an English cipher. Can anyone tell me?

enter image description here

He later added in the comments section:

an intern left it on his notepad on his last day in the office

| improve this question | |
$\endgroup$
33
$\begingroup$

This appears to be Elian Script. I'm not sure I can read the writer's handwriting entirely (and they seem to have added some nonstandard things like a zigzag for T), but the first few lines read:

PAR?NRE RENR

?HE C PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE!

I REALLY WANT MY PEN!

Edit by OP: I spend some time to fully decipher it but I think Deusovi deserves the real credit for an answer so I present it as an edit:

park nre renr
the c programming langua#ge!
i really want my pen!
create a c[=b?]etter interface for reports
hey mr flava! flava
i reall#y should practice my elian s#cript more
the d language is fun to use indeed!
i really should practice my elian script
mayby # i should standerdiz ze

{ changed pens }

testing this pen
it writes # mu#a [=much?] faster

| improve this answer | |
$\endgroup$
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I think it can be assumed that the zigzag with a dot is a T, and therefore the zigzag without the dot would be a K $\endgroup$ – AHKieran Mar 5 '19 at 10:48
  • $\begingroup$ Wow! I mean, seriously! I'm gonna have to verify it after working hours but it looks very promising. Thank you! $\endgroup$ – cyco130 Mar 5 '19 at 10:49
  • $\begingroup$ @AHKieran Yes, probably! But I was unsure about that first line, so I just left it as-is. $\endgroup$ – Deusovi♦ Mar 5 '19 at 10:49
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ There's also this little thing, maybe you could take a look at it. :) $\endgroup$ – Vilx- Mar 5 '19 at 16:27
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @Vilx- isn't it obvious? (in case you or someone else hasn't already seen that) $\endgroup$ – Rob Watts Mar 5 '19 at 20:17

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.