A Formal Operational Model for the Voynich

This preprint presents a formal, non-linguistic model of the Voynich Manuscript (MS 408), proposing that the text encodes a procedural system rather than a natural or constructed language. The model interprets EVA-transcribed glyphs as operational states and transition operators within a deterministic finite-state automaton.The work defines a restricted set of operational states, formal transition constraints, and terminal conditions that account for the manuscript’s strong positional rigidity, repetition patterns, and structural regularities across heterogeneous sections, including diagrammatic and dense-text folios. The model is shown to be falsifiable and independent of visual interpretation, remaining consistent in sections lacking illustrative support.This contribution does not claim a semantic decipherment of the manuscript. Instead, it establishes the formal class of system to which the Voynich Manuscript belongs, sharply constraining the space of admissible interpretations and providing a structured framework for further investigation.Status: Preprint / Working PaperVersion: 1.0 (January 2026)