I successfully converted a similar query, even though I couldn't figure out how to add "LOWER(n.title)" (so it might not work with Postgres), but how do I this one:

SELECT COUNT(n.nid) FROM {node} n WHERE n.type=':type' AND (n.title REGEXP '^[^[:alpha:]].*$')

 

Extra points if you tell me how to fix that for non-English.