Inside the Voynich Network: graph analysis

[Jorge_Stolfi]

the next word is not random. it depends on the previous two or three words.  ... Conditional entropy drops sharply when more context is known

So far this is a property of almost any text written in any natural language.  And even of encrypted text, if each original word type is mapped to one encrypted word type.  Or to a small number of types. 

Because of this property, a Markov model of order 2 (that chooses the next word at random, with frequencies based on the last two generated words) can produce pseudo-English (or pseudo-Mongolian) that is pretty much indistinguishable from the real thing -- to anyone who does not know the language.

Therefore, the results of any word-level analysis of the VMS should be compared to those obtained from a sample of pseudo-Voynichese generated by a Markov of order 2 or 3. Comparing to simple random stream of words (as produced by a Markov of order zero) is not very useful.

A millennium ago, Jacques Guy wrote such a generator, which he called "monkey".  Alas I can find neither the program not its output.  Maybe some other old-timer kept a copy?

All the best, --stolfi