[Tex/LaTex] Versicle and response symbols

symbols

I want to properly typeset the versicle and response symbols. The versicle symbol looks like this:

versicle symbol

and the response symbol is the same but with "R" instead of "V".

The Comprehensive LaTeX Symbol List provides a solution which requires XeLaTeX and the Junicode font, but is there a way to properly typeset the symbols using pdfLaTeX (i.e. is there a package which provides the symbols)? If not, what is the best way to construct the symbols manually?

I managed to construct something that looks like a versicle with

\newcommand{\versicle}{$\mathbf{\not{\mkern -3mu \mathrm{V}}}$}

but I'm not skilled at constructing symbols and I know that's not right.

I'm open to using XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX if necessary to properly typeset these symbols but I'd like to know if there is a good way to do it with pdfLaTeX.


An example of the use of these symbols can be found in, e.g., Wikipedia's article on the Tantum ergo:

Example usage of versicle/response

Best Answer

A poorman’s version:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}

\makeatletter
\DeclareRobustCommand{\versicle}{\vers@resp{-0.1em}{V}}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\response}{\vers@resp{0pt}{R}}

\newcommand{\vers@resp@sym}{\raisebox{0.2ex}{\rotatebox[origin=c]{-20}{$\m@th\rceil$}}}

\newcommand{\vers@resp}[2]{%
  {\ooalign{\hidewidth\kern#1\vers@resp@sym\hidewidth\cr#2\cr}}%
}
\makeatother

\begin{document}

\versicle

\response

\end{document}

enter image description here

You may need to fine tune the parameters for a different font.