Holdontoyourhat
Former Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2005
- Messages
- 5,299
- Reaction score
- 12
IMO, The author of the ransom note was struggling to write in English, because the correctness of the form of each letter is inversely proportional to the degree of difficulty of writing that letter.
Check the ransom note against this idea, and you will find that the letters with rounded, curved, or diagonal forms are frequently malformed, while the letters with straight and perpendicular lines are rarely malformed.
Letters with curves or rounded sections difficulty (for a novice): moderate to high
BCDGJOPQRSU
abcdefghjmnopqrsu
Letters with diagonal lines: easy to moderate
AKMNRVWXYZ
kvwxyz
Letters with only straight lines: easy
EFHILT
ilt
Ransom note grossly malformed letters:
W (We are a group )
b ( attache to the bank.)
d ( group of individuals )
In fact, the W, b, and d examples listed above avoid the more difficult curve and diagonal, replacing them with an easier straight and perpendicular form.
Even in the last sentence, where the author seems most relaxed, and the writing seems to be smooth (and not disguised) , the J in John is malformed. Squared off, as are many curves and diagonals in the note.
The squaring off of letters that pervades the ransom note lowers the degree of difficulty for someone who is not adept at writing in English.
Check the ransom note against this idea, and you will find that the letters with rounded, curved, or diagonal forms are frequently malformed, while the letters with straight and perpendicular lines are rarely malformed.
Letters with curves or rounded sections difficulty (for a novice): moderate to high
BCDGJOPQRSU
abcdefghjmnopqrsu
Letters with diagonal lines: easy to moderate
AKMNRVWXYZ
kvwxyz
Letters with only straight lines: easy
EFHILT
ilt
Ransom note grossly malformed letters:
W (We are a group )
b ( attache to the bank.)
d ( group of individuals )
In fact, the W, b, and d examples listed above avoid the more difficult curve and diagonal, replacing them with an easier straight and perpendicular form.
Even in the last sentence, where the author seems most relaxed, and the writing seems to be smooth (and not disguised) , the J in John is malformed. Squared off, as are many curves and diagonals in the note.
The squaring off of letters that pervades the ransom note lowers the degree of difficulty for someone who is not adept at writing in English.