Spelling Reform

To the first cause may be ascribed the difference between the spelling and pronunciation of Saxon words. The northern nations of Europe originally spoke much in gutturals. This is evident from the number of aspirates and guttural letters which still remain in the orthography of words derived from those nationals; and from the modern pronunciation of the collateral branches of the Teutonic, the Dutch, the Scotch, and German. Thus, k before n was once pronounced as in knave, know; the gh in might, though, daughter, and other similar words; the g in reign, feign, etc...