ASCII Character c

The character "c" is the third letter of the Latin and English alphabets in its lowercase form.

The shape of the lowercase "c" generally consists of a semi-circle or half-oval that is open on the right side, similar to a complete circle that has a small portion missing on the right. However, the specific design of the "c" can vary somewhat depending on the typeface or font being used.

In terms of pronunciation, the lowercase "c" in the English language represents the same sounds as its uppercase counterpart "C". It can represent either a soft sound, similar to an "s", as in "certain", or a hard sound, similar to a "k", as in "cat". The hard or soft pronunciation usually depends on the letter that follows the "c". It is pronounced with a soft sound when followed by "e", "i", or "y", and with a hard sound when followed by any other letters.

Historically, the lowercase "c", along with other lowercase letters, came into existence after the uppercase letters. The development of lowercase letters is linked to the evolution of writing style from Roman stone carving to the quicker and more efficient writing methods used by scribes, where speed and space were valued. This cursive or minuscule writing eventually led to the development of the lowercase "c" as we know it today.