  We consider parametrized families of linear retarded functional differential
equations (RFDEs) projected onto finite-dimensional invariant manifolds, and
address the question of versality of the resulting parametrized family of
linear ordinary differential equations. A sufficient criterion for versality is
given in terms of readily computable quantities. In the case where the
unfolding is not versal, we show how to construct a perturbation of the
original linear RFDE (in terms of delay differential operators) whose
finite-dimensional projection generates a versal unfolding. We illustrate the
theory with several examples, and comment on the applicability of these results
to bifurcation analyses of nonlinear RFDEs.
