21-05-2026, 08:43 AM
(20-05-2026, 10:39 PM)Jorge_Stolfi wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.I have yet to see evidence that there is a "continuous evolutionary gradient" along the VMS.
It is documented here: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. and You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
The gradient follows a specific path through specific intermediate forms — chol → cheol → cheo → chey → chedy — each attested with specific frequencies in a specific section order. The first step from <chol> to <cheol> even happens within Currier A.
(20-05-2026, 10:39 PM)Jorge_Stolfi wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. 56 otedy 56 oteedy
2 ytedy 12 yteedy
12 ched 11 ches
10 shed 0 shes
119 chey 11 ches
77 shey 0 shes
50 dain 30 dair
12 rain 2 rair
The frequency-connectivity correlation arises through a feedback loop inherent in the copying process. Frequent words are more likely to be selected as copying templates, generating more variants; the existence of more variants increases the probability that members of that word family are selected in subsequent copying events. This self-reinforcing cycle ensures that the most frequently used words accumulate the most similar neighbors—precisely the pattern you document.