At least one of the patterns we find in lines of Voynich text is axial symmetry.
It is easy to detect. Counting words, we find the midpoint of the line and then look for any symmetries either side of that axis, such symmetries being palindromic.
The method is suggested by the (notable) red-line text on f67r. In EVA:
sshey syshees qeykeey ykchey ykchey qokeochy oaiin okalar ol??
The line displays pronounced axial symmetry, and while the rubricated text is much discussed I do not know of any studies drawing attention to this.
I discuss it on my blog here:
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In short, the central words are:
qeykeey ykchey --- ykchey qokeochy
And either side of that we find a contrast between [s] words and [o] words, thus:
sshey syshees
qeykeey ykchey
ykchey qokeochy
oaiin okalar ol??
Alerted by this important line of text, we then investigate whether this phenomenon is widespread.
Turning to the very first line of text in the manuscript, we find another case of it.
fachys.ykal.ar.ataiin.shol.shory.cthres.y.kor.sholdy-
In the case of the red text the axis (midpoint) of the line displays a duplication of the word [ykchey]. On this first line of text, at the midpoint we find two similar words: [shol] and [shory].
It is hard to detect any further symmetries, but there are some important ones.
[ykal] and [y.kor] offer a symmetry involving the gallows [k].
Then we notice the same symmetry in the glyph [t] – there is a [t] glyph either side of the axis.
Thus we have this palindromic pattern:
K T shol – shory T K
Moreover, note how the glyph [a] is only found on the left side of the axis (i.e. the first half of the line):
fachys.ykal.ar.ataiin.
shol.shory.
cthres.y.kor.sholdy-
This is the same type of pattern that we find in the red text line, albeit less conspicuous.
Symmetries of all sorts might arise by chance, of course, but the red text on You are not allowed to view links.
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* * *
Another example:
Line 4 from f30v:
chotchol.daiin.cthol.doiin.daiin.chokeor.dal.chtoithy-
Eight words. The axis is after [doiin].
Here we find the symmetry of [doiin] and [daiin].
From this point another pattern emerges. The initial glyphs of words run in alternations of [ch] and [d]:
chotchol.daiin.cthol.doiin.
daiin.chokeor.dal.chtoithy-
In this case there is no obvious pattern to the gallows glyphs, but there is to word initial glyphs. Thus:
CH D CH DOIIN – DAIIN CH D CH
* * *
Another example of axial symmetry of initial glyphs:
<f94v.P.5;H>
tedain.chedy.qokshd.okchdy.
qokeal.chorchor.tchor.am-
Axial Symmetry:
t ch q o q ch t
Notice here, though, that the final word [am] does not participate. By observation, it seems that in some cases it is necessary to overlook the final word (or particle) in order to locate the actual central point of symmetry.
* * *
Some cases can be found of lines that are starkly palindromic such as this short line:
<f35r.P.6;H>
schaiin.char.chan.daiin-
schaiin.char. ---- chan.daiin-
Here is another simple case:
<f35v.P.13;H>
ol.char.od.ar.chear
ol.char.
od.
ar.chear
As with the red text line, the symmetry here is more obvious in Voynich script because it involves certain visual elements. That is, there is symmetry of units that look the same or similar.
* * *
Another case, this time from the B Text:
<f103r.P.29;H>
qokechchy.shokeey.qochey.qokeey.
chal.chedy=
We break this up as:
qokechchy.
shokeey.
qochey.
qokeey.
chal.chedy
The symmetry here involves the doubled [ch] in the first word:
ch-ch - shokeey -- qochey -- qokeey - ch - ch
* * *
Here is a line from 58v that displays axial symmetry in the central words:
<f58v.P2.36;H>
olkeey.okar.ar.choky.otair.otol.chokey.
cheeky.dalar-
choky.otair.--- otol.chokey.
Before and after this we find words suggesting serial repetition:
olkeey.okar.ar
cheeky dalar
In any case, once again we see the usefulness of locating the centre of the line for exposing structural symmetries.
* * *
Here is a strongly palindromic formation, conspicuous because of two instances of triple [eee] at the midline.
<f16r.P2.6;H>
oshaiin.dyky.oeees.deeeod.aiin.dtoaiin-
The symmetry is:
AIIN - EEE - EEE - AIIN
* * *
These are enough examples to demonstrate the phenomenon. Assuredly, many lines show no much patterns, but many do, including the red text on 67r. Can we demonstrate deliberate patterns beyond what might arise accidentally, evidence of some orgasnisational process?
I hope to provoke some discussion of LINES from this viewpoint - axial symmetry (palindromic configurations, mirroring) and the midline point, and the possibility that at least some lines are organised on a central axis.
In many lines it seems there are a series of variants, or different ways of writing the same word: in some cases this process might be organised around a central pivot.
R.B.