G

G. The letter G is of Italic origin, and was produced by a differentiation of C, to denote the original sound of that letter, as distinct from its other value of k. Of the two sounds of g, the hard and the soft, the former is the original one, which belonged to it in Latin, and persists, even before e and i (cf. get, give) in words of Anglo-Saxon origin, excepting before e final (cf. cringe). The name "guttural mute" is incorrect, since the throat plays no part in the formation of the sound. It was introduced into Latin about the sixth century A.D., and in English is chiefly confined to words of Romance origin.