(Actually yes, that's how they work. Even if you record the specific inscription, the words themselves are magic, so an understanding of magic is required to read them. Writing down what you see , even for a mage, will result in useless pictographs. Taking a 'rubbing' of a slate is possible, and how Treasure Hunters get an inscription translated by a fully qualified mage. These rubbings can only be read once though, and tend to 'smudge' to the point of illegibility after one 'use'. )