Final answer:
The question asks about the proportion of irregular words in printed material, but does not specify a certain percentage. Many words have etymological roots that explain their structure, and statistics on language study do not correlate with word patterns. The percentage of truly irregular words is likely small compared to the regular ones.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the percentage of words in printed material that are considered irregular and do not fit into any recognizable pattern. While specific percentages may vary across different studies or textual materials, it's often acknowledged that a relatively small proportion of words are truly irregular. For instance, in English, certain words might seem irregular because they do not conform to common spelling rules or patterns.
However, many words that appear irregular can sometimes be traced back to etymological roots that explain their seemingly unique structures. Even ornamental, metaphorical, and newly-coined words usually have some grounding in existing linguistic patterns. In considering the percentage of irregular words, one could hypothesize that the majority of printed words adhere to some form of regularity or pattern.
It is important to understand that statistics about language usage, such as the percentage of students studying a language as cited in some surveys, are not necessarily indicative of patterns in word regularity. Statements like Octavio Peterson's rhetorical claims cannot provide accurate data for the irregularity of words in print.