"Bell System Technical Journal, IX:290--325, April 1930"

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Clarification of Question by captain1111-ga on 11 Apr 2004 19:13 PDT

What are the fifty most frequently used words in the list compiled by
French, Carter and Koenig in the Bell System Technical Journal,
IX:290--325, April 1930?

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 11 Apr 2004 19:15 PDT

Is this what you are looking for?

"The numbers in parentheses indicate a word's ranking in the
now-famous list of the fifty words most frequently used in telephone
conversations, which appeared in the Bell System Technical Journal in
1930."

Qwerty and Dvorak Typing "Demons"
http://www.mit.edu/~jcb/Dvorak/demons.html

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

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Clarification of Question by captain1111-ga on 13 Apr 2004 06:13 PDT

Hello Tutuzdad,

No, this is the Dvorak keyboard "daemons" list.

I want the list (from 1 to 50 in order)of the words most frequently
used in telephone conversations. Supposedly, it is a famous list in
telecommunications history.  I could not find it in the Bell
Laboratories site, but it's probably there.

Your answer happens to be the page that originally interested me.  I
wondered about the contents of this "famous" list.


Best regards,



Sidney

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 13 Apr 2004 06:42 PDT

Yes, I understand what you are looking for, however, in lieu of the
entire list, within the Qwerty Keyboard list on this page 34 of the
words which appear in the Bell 1930 Technical Journal are indeed
mentioned according to rank of frequency. Short of finding the entire
list, this may be your best hope:

"The numbers in parentheses indicate a word's ranking in the
now-famous list of the fifty words most frequently used in telephone
conversations, which appeared in the Bell System Technical Journal in
1930."

the (3) 
to (6) 
of (13) 
and (10) 
is (9) 
it (8) 
that (7) 
for (20) 
with (28) 
have (19) 
be (50) 
would (40) 
will (12) 
you (2) 
in (14) 
this (34) 
are (24) 
was (42) 
do (23) 
they (17) 
we (16) 
your 
what (45) 
thing (36) 
them (41) 
he (15) 
think (33) 
can (38) 
about (31) 
say (37) 
day (35) 
over (49) 
from (44) 
I (1) 
just (48)

tutuzdad-ga

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Clarification of Question by captain1111-ga on 15 Apr 2004 17:28 PDT

Thanks for your reply, but I'm looking for the actual list.  If it's
"famous" it must be findable, probably on Bell Laboratory's site or on
the MIT site.  I'd really like the whole list.

I honestly have seen this page [b]before[/b] I put in the search
request. It's the list I want and I'm sure it's out there.


Best regards




Sidney

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 16 Apr 2004 20:00 PDT

Sorry, I've been unable to find it. Perhaps someone else will have better luck.

regards;
tutuzdad-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by supermacman-ga on 26 Apr 2004 09:16 PDT

Hi captain1111-ga:

I have found this journal in a library, but accessing it involves me
going to the library, finding it in the stacks, photocopying, and
transcribing into Google Answers.

If the price of the question was raised, then I will find the article
for you. Remember, if I can't find it, you will be charged nothing.

Thanks,

- supermacman-ga

French N.R., Carter C.W. & Koenig. W. (1930). The words and sounds of
telephone conversation.  Bell Systems Technical Journal. 9. 290-324

Not to sound negative but don't you think the list maybe has changed
in the last 74 years.

Hi there:)

No deal on the higher price for this particular one, sorry.  But I see
you've got a good history as a researcher especially concerning
chemistry (your major?) and I'll keep you in mind for more important
searches.

Gotta tell you I'm just AMAZED that this one is proving so hard to
find on the internet.


Best Regards,



Lovelaw

I think it's because it was published a very long time ago, and nobody
bothered to republish it online... which is unfortunate, because so
many old articles are fundamental to science and engineering!

- supermacman-ga

All I can find as well is only libraries or archives that have
physical copies, it does not seem to be put online anywhere. I would
have to say I agree with a price raise if someone is going to
physically go get the journal, scan it, and post it online. That's
hours of work for $2.00. Hopefully this works out 1 way or another.

Nenna-GA
GAR