Letters
.Their proportionate use is as follows:—
1
E . 1,000
T .. 770
A .. 728
I .. 704
S .. 680
O .. 672
N .. 670
H .. 540
R .. 528
D .. 392
L .. 360
U .. 296
C .. 280
M .. 272
F .. 236
W .. 190
Y .. 184
P .. 168
G .. 168
B .. 158
V .. 120
K .. 88
J .. 55
Q .. 50
X .. 46
Z .. 22
Consonants, 5,977. Vowels, 3,400.
As initial letters the order is very different, the proportion being:—
3
S .. 1,194
C .. 937
P .. 804
A .. 574
T .. 571
D .. 505
B .. 463
M .. 439
F .. 388
I .. 377
E .. 340
H .. 308
L .. 298
R .. 291
W .. 272
G .. 266
U .. 228
O .. 206
V .. 172
N .. 153
J .. 69
Q .. 58
K .. 47
Y .. 23
Z .. 18
X .. 4
⁂ E is the most common letter (except in initials), and r, s, t, d, are the most common final letters.
I and a are the only single letters which make words. Perhaps o, as a sign of the vocative case, should be added. Of two letters, an, at, and on are the most common, and of three letters the and and. (See Long Words.)
Many attribute the invention to Badamanth, the Assyrian.
The same authority says that Menēs invented hieroglyphics, and wrote in them a history of Egypt, B.C. 2122.
Lucan says:—
“Phœniʹcēs primi, famæ si creditur, ausi
Mansuʹram ruʹdibus vocem signaʹre figuʹris.”
Sir Richard Philips says—“Thoth, the Egyptian who invented current writing, lived between B.C. 2806 and 3000.”
Many maintain that Jehovah taught men written characters when He inscribed on stone the ten commandments. Of course, all these assertions have a similar value to mythology and fable.
Cadmos, the Phœnician, introduced sixteen of the Greek letters.
Simonʹidēs introduced η, ω, ξ; and Epicarmos introduced θ, χ. At least, so says Aristotle. (See Lacedemonian Letter, and Letter of Pythagoras.)
Father of Letters (Père des Lettres). François I. of France (1494, 1515–1547).
Lorenzo deʹ Medici, the Magnificent (1448–1492).
A man of letters. A man of learning, of erudition.
