Voynichese Phonotactics

[Emma May Smith]

These questions aside, how we work out syllable structure will depend on what characters we assign to be vowels (or capable of forming a syllable nucleus). Once we make the first argument for those sound values both the structure of the syllable, and possible sounds for other characters, soon follow. I would argue that o, a, and y are vowel sounds, but am interested in hearing counter proposal (and arguments).

I tend to think:

• a, e, and o are vowels
  
• i is a modifier of the previous vowel, as is e (when there's more than one)
  
• y is a syllabic consonant (capable of serving both as ordinary consonant and syllable nucleus), as are possibly some other letters (l, ch, Sh)
  

I certainly think your first two points are likely. I've come to the same conclusion about i, though a slightly different one about e.

This is the first time I've heard the third proposal regarding y. I am quite happy that ch and sh can be in both consonant and vowel positions. But y strikes me as not having the same qualities. Can it explain why y appears less commonly in the middle of words, and never before certain characters? I do believe that any theory concerning y has to account for its relationship with a.

To a broader point concerning the phonology of Voynichese: if we believe ch and sh are sometimes acting as syllabic consonants we can potentially narrow down their value. Syllabic consonants are typically sonorants, so sounds like /n, m, r, l/. (I know which of those I would put my money on.) Though, as ever, problems arise when we consider the ends of words where ch and sh don't appear: can sonorants be forbidden in the syllable coda?