We can make an imitation of Voynichese in the following way:
1. Take two opposing words, of about the same length, in any given language.
2. Divide these words up into bigrams and trigrams.
3. Make a rule that the first bigram of the first word and last bigram of the other word are initial and final respectively.
4. Combine the bigrams and trigrams into an array of combinations.
For example, here are two opposing terms:
RUSSIA
UKRAINE
(As it happens, these words
do have some of the characteristics of the Voynich words QOKEEDY and CHOLDAIIN.)
Now divide them up into bigrams and trigrams such as:
RU SS IA
RUSS IA
RU SSIA
UK RAINE
UKR AINE
UK RA INE
Now combine them into words, keeping RU initial and AINE final.
RU
SSUK
UKIA
UK
SSIAKRAINE
IARAIN
RA
AINE
RUK
UKRU
KRIA
UKUSSIA
IARUK
RUSSUK
RUSSAINE
RAINERU
RUKIA
Some configurations are not possible. You cannot have NRKUR for example because it is not a combination of permitted bigrams or trigrams.
Here is an imitation line of text Voynich-style:
ru.ssuk.ukia.ra.ra.kria.russuk.russaine.rukia.ra.iarain.ssiar.ukia.kruss-
Now design a glyph-set that allows these words to be written in a smooth, even, continuous (peaceloving) cursive script. It might be prudent to design a single glyph for the [SS] and perhaps special glyphs to mark initials and finals.
That is essentially what Voynichese is, except the two opposing terms are QOKEEDY and CHOLDAIIN. This is the simplest possible formulation of the textual phenomenon we find in the Voynich manuscript. I contend that, in truth, Voynichese is only a more complex version of this. In its essential form this is what it is: two paradigmatic words, divided into bigrams and trigrams, and combined together according to some extra rules (and substitute glyphs largely marking initials and finals.)
This is not to say this is how it was made, but however it
was made this is not an inaccurate description of what it amounts to
prima facie.
Nor is this an unwarranted oversimplification. It is a corrective to studies that dwell on minutiae, epiphenomena and noise and fail to see the bigger picture.
It is necessary, sometimes, to step back and see the elephant.
* * *
The proper term for what we encounter in the Voynich text, and the way words rehearse variations of the paradigms QOKEEDY and CHOLDAIIN is metamorphosis. We can speak of mutations, variants, deviations and so forth, but metamorphosis seems the better and more fitting term. The nature of the text is metamorphic.
Voynich words are either truncations or variants of one of the paradigmatic words, QOKEEDY or CHOLDAIIN, or else combinations of variations of these paradigmata. We witness the shape of configurations changing. The paradigms metamorphosize. Every word is a metamorphosis of the paradigmata.
We can give a consistent account of all words in this way.
Thus [qokey] is a metamorphosis (by truncation) of QOKEEDY. [cholkedy] is a metamorphosis (by combination) of CHOL + KEEDY.
Often we see interplay between prefixes and suffixes - the prefix of one paradigm in combination with the suffix of the other. But we find two prefixes - [okcho] is QOK + CHOL - and other combinations as well.
The basis for the interplay are the natural divisions of the paradigms.
QOKEEDY naturally breaks into three parts: QO + KEE + DY.
Or (dropping the initial and final glyphs) : OK + KE + ED
CHOLDAIIN naturally bifurcates: CHOL + DAIIN.
But QOKEEDY can be broken into two in the manner of (under the influence of) CHOLDAIIN: QOK + EEDY, or QO + KEEDY.
And CHOLDAIIN can be broken into three like QOKEEDY: CHO + LD + AIIN, which also permits other bifurcations CHOLD + AIIN and CHO + LDAIIN.
In short, the paradigms can be broken into a set of bigrams and trigrams (and quadrigrams where two bigrams are intact.)
* * *
Here is an account of a smattering of words that demonstrates some of the types of metamorphosis that occur:
tchedy is a metamorphosis of KEEDY
qokey = QOKEEDY
okeey = QOKEEDY
lkeey = LD + KEEDY
qokeor = QOK + CHOL
chedy = KEEDY
cheokeey = CHO + KEEDY
qokeey = QOKEEDY
chedl = CHO + LD
lkair = LD + AIIN
alkeedy = CHOL + KEEDY
ram = DAIIN
pchedy = KEEDY
qosaiin = QOK + DAIIN
cheopchy = CHOL + KEEDY
cheeos = CHOL
In lines of text we often see groupings of words with the same structure. For example:
f53v.P.8
sheey.kshody.tsheody.sheody.sheetchy.opod-
Every word in this line - except the last - is a metamorphosis of KEEDY. This line of text rehearses variants of KEEDY. Why, for what reason, and what determines the order, are further questions.
R.B.