It becomes clear without viewing too many examples that axial symmetry is a common structure in lines of Voynichese.
We can also describe the pattern as palindromic or as mirroring. The same pattern of elements extends backwards and forwards from a centrepoint.
In many cases of Voynich lines, from throughout the text, this is what we find. Usually there are intruding words, and words or elements not participating in the pattern, but the palindromic pattern is easy to detect.
Another, related, common pattern is serial repetition, where a pattern is repeated in the first half and then the second half of the line, with the midline point dividing them.
Thus we have (at least) two simple models for Voynich lines:
In each case there is a midpoint, an axis, roughly in the centre of the line.
Here are some examples of each:
* * *
Line 5 from f16v
ytchy.chyty.chor.chol.ytchy.dan-
ytchy - chor = chol - ytchy
This is a plain and uncomplicated case of a palindromic formation, leaving out the final word [dan].
* * *
Line 12 from f99r.
qokey.chkeey.chey.ckhey.ckhey.ykeey.oiin.air.chody.oeksa=
keey - ckhey = ckhey - keey
The palindromic configuration is bracketed within the line - internal bracketing, thus:
qokey.[chkeey.chey.ckhey.ckhey.ykeey].oiin.air.chody.oeksa=
As in other cases, the mirroring is signalled by a word repeated midline.
* * *
Line 2, f30v.
qotchor.chy.she.kchor.chory.keor.ol.chy.daiin.ctholdy-
In this case we are alerted to axial symmetry by the two appearances of the word [chy].
The symmetry is:
tch - chy - chor = chor - chy - tch
But we must allow that [tch] and [cth] are equivalent.
* * *
The first line of f27v.
fochof.chof.cho.sho.soly.shol.ytchor.ofchory.kchorchor-
First lines tend to be more complex, but the symmetry here is no less apparent.
There are nine words. Divide the line in half with [soly] at the midpoint. Track the glyphs, noting the gallows [f]:
fochof.chof.cho.sho.
soly.
shol.ytchor.ofchory.kchorchor-
o cho - ch - f - ch - sho = soly = sho - ch - f - ch - cho o
* * *
Line ten, f95v1
sain.sheyk.chody.kchedaiin.chedaiin.otain.daiin=
We are alerted to palindromic patterns by the repetition [kchedaiin.chedaiin] midline, and by the similar words at the start and end of the line:
sain - chedaiin = chedaiin - daiin.
Notice how the elements involved in the palindromic pattern, except the [e], are all from the CHOLDAIIN paradigm.
* * *
Line 2, f26v.
saraiir.chekedy.qokedy.otedy.sar.y.etedy.qokedy.or.aree.alys.chedy=
Here we can detect a case of serial repetition with a central axis. We are altered to it by the two instances of [qokedy]. The repeated pattern (allowing for [k] and [t] to be interchangeable) is:
sar - e[k]edy - qokedy - edy
sar - e[t]edy - qokedy - edy
* * *
Line 16, f83v.
solkeedy.qokeedy.qokeedy.saiin.okaiin.chedy.qokeedy.qolkeedy-
This is a strongly palindromic line. The pattern either side of the central axis is:
olkeedy - qokeedy - saiin = okaiin - qokeedy - olkeedy
* * *
Line 22, f82v.
saiin.shey.qokol.chol.qol.sheedy.qokal.shedy.qokaiin-
This is a strongly palindromic line:
aiin - she - qokol - chol = qol - qokal - she - aiin
There is another interesting pattern in this line. The glyph [q] alternates with [ch] (or [sh])
sh – q – ch – q – sh – q – sh - q
* * *
Line 4, f28v.
tshoiin.cheor.chor.o.chty.qotol.sheol.shor.daiin.qoty-
A case where we can discern serial repetition:
cheor - chor - o ty
sheol - shor - oty
* * *
Line 2, f23r.
to.ar.chor.daiin.chkdain.otchy.lolchor.daiin.dam.okchol.daing-
This is a more complex case again, but we can detect serial repetition: it is signalled by the two odd [daiin] words with only one [i], namely [chkdain] and the final [daing].
The symmetry is:
to.ar.chor.daiin.chkdain.
otchy.
lolchor.daiin.dam.okchol.daing-
The repeated sequence is:
chor - daiin - kch - dain = chor - daiin - kch - dain
* * *
Much attention has been given to the starts and ends of lines, following the observation that certain glyphs gravitate to those positions.
Here is evidence that the midpoint of the line is of significance too, as an axis for certain common patterns.
Indeed, the process that drives certain glyphs to the start and ends of lines might conceivably be a structural process with the midline as its axis. They might be related phenomena, anyway.
It should be added here that I came to this study of palindromic patterns in lines by an entirely non-linguistic route.
I have proposed that a LINE is equivalent (ideally) to a YEAR. Many patterns of the year - such as lengthening and shortening of night and day - are palindromic. I asked: If line = year, are there palindromic (typical astronomical) patterns in lines?
R.B.
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