Phonological Change

Question 1

When was the Great Vowel Shift?

Answer 1

1350-1700

Question 2

What was the GVS?

Answer 2

A major series of changes in the pronunciation pf the English language. A dramatic and important example of sound change.

The long vowel sounds changed and were replaced with sounds familiar to today.

Thousands of words effected.

Question 3

Give some examples of GVS (shown in spelling).

Answer 3

Toe- to
Mark- make
Bek- beak
Bort-boat
Weef- Wife

FOOD, GOOD AND BLOOD RHYMED.
Chaucer, Shakespeare, now.

Question 4

Why was the GVS important?

Answer 4

Effects were not uniform and differences in vowel shifting can still be detected in regional dialects.

Question 5

Who was the first person to make a serious study of the GVS?

Answer 5

Otto Jeperson (1860-1943)

Question 6

Is the exact cause of the GVS known?

Answer 6

NO

Question 7

What could have caused the GVS?

Answer 7

Mass immigration to SE England after the Black Death, where differences in accents, led to groups modifying their speech to allow for a standard pronunciation of vowel sounds.

Other theories point to the social mobility after the BD, with people from lower levels of society moving to higher levels (the pandemic hit the aristocracy too).

Question 8

How did the GVS impact language today?

Give examples.

Answer 8

English spelling was becoming standardised in the 15th and 16th centuries- generally through the printing press, dictionaries came later.

Responsible for many peculiarities of English spelling.

Spellings that made sense according to ME pronunciation were retained in ModE and we still use lots of them today.

-love
-steak
-Father
-Breadth
-Said
-Could