Long-Vowel Shifts in English, c.1050-1700: Evidence from Spelling

by Gjertrud Flermoen Stenbrenden

Overview

The English language has undergone many sound changes in its long history. Some of these changes had a profound effect on the pronunciation of the language. A number of these significant instances of language evolution are generally grouped together and termed the 'Great Vowel Shift'. These changes are generally considered to be unrelated to other, similar long-vowel changes taking place a little earlier. This book assesses an extensive range of irregular Middle English spellings for all these changes, with a view to identifying the real course of events: the dates, the chronology, and the dialects that stand out as being innovative. Using empirical evidence to offer a fresh perspective and drawing new, convincing conclusions, Stenbrenden offers an interpretation of the history of the English language which may change our view of sound change completely.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107677517
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/24/2019
Series:	Studies in English Language
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Gjertrud Flermoen Stenbrenden is Associate Professor of English Language at Universitetet i Oslo.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. The development of OE ā; 3. The development of OE ǣ; 4. The development of OE ē and ēo; 5. The development of ME ī; 6. The development of OE ō; 7. The development of ME ū; 8. The development of OE ȳ; 9. Summary and conclusions.