A historian analyzing Galileo’s correspondence notes that 40% of his letters were written in Latin, and the rest in Italian. If he wrote 350 letters total, how many were written in Italian?

Sun, 03 May 2026 05:13:15 +0000

Analyzing Galileo’s Correspondence: A Historian Reveals Leadership in Language Use A fascinating historical insight into Nobel laureate Galileo Galilei’s personal communication reveals that language played a significant role in his scholarly outreach. According to a detailed analysis by historians studying his vast collection of correspondence, 40% of Galileo’s 350 letters were written in Latin, reflecting the scholarly norms of 17th-century science. The remainder—60%—were composed in Italian, showcasing both his commitment to accessibility and his strategic choice to reach a broader, educated public. Calculating the number of letters written in Italian offers clear, measurable evidence of Galileo’s dual identity: a scientist deeply rooted in classical learning—evident through extensive Latin correspondence—and an early adopter of vernacular writing, helping shape science communication for future generations. If Galileo wrote 350 letters in total and 40% were in Latin, then: