THE FUNCTIONAL REDUNDANCY OF THE LETTER X IN ENGLISH ORTHOGRAPHY

Abstract

The letter \"X\" is examined linguistically as part of a functional analysis of the English writing system. Its absence, or presence, as a functionally contributive letter of the English writing system, and its rarity as a letter of the English language are examined through X's frequency, and through the analyses of the phonology, morphology and etymology. Phonological and corrosion analyses validate X's consonant cluster no unique shorthand for the English language's /ks/, /gz/ and /z/ sounds. X is morphologically inoperative, and its presence is more significant to the English system's Greek and Latin derived vocabulary. X is paradoxically and historically preserved in the English language alphabet due more its title as an English language letter, than as an English language functionally usable letter. Its primary preserved title in the English language is functionally preserved as a letter in a title, and its functionally unsymbolic attributes in a language of reference, are empty, and virtually nonlinguistic, as a letter to the English language.