_Letters in three Welsh Versions._
_Bible._ _Prys._ _Watts._
Consonants 185 205 241
Vowels 148 165 159
--- --- ---
Apparent excess of }
consonants in Welsh } 37 40 82
_Letters in three English Versions._
_Bible._ _Tate & Brady._ _Watts._
Consonants 220 271 275
Vowels 134 163 170
--- --- ---
Apparent excess of }
consonants in English } 86 108 105
_Sounds in three Welsh Versions._
_Bible._ _Prys._ _Watts._
Consonants 150 173 200
Vowels 148 165 159
--- --- ---
Real excess of consonants}
in Welsh } 2 8 41
_Sounds in three English Versions._
_Bible._ _Tate & Brady._ _Watts._
Consonants 195 241 240
Vowels 122 149 159
--- --- ---
Real excess of consonants}
in English } 73 92 81
From this analysis it appears that the excess of consonant _letters_ over
vowels is, in English, 299; and in Welsh, 159, a little more than one-half.
The excess of consonant _sounds_ is, in English, 246; in Welsh, 51,
considerably less than one-fourth.
This result might readily have been anticipated by anybody familiar with
the following facts:
1. On examining lists of the elementary sounds of both languages, it will
be found that the Welsh has a greater number of vowels than the English,
and the English a greater number of consonants than the Welsh.