Long-vowel shifts in English, c. 1050-1700 : evidence from spelling /
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.' Thes...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge ; New York :
Cambridge University Press,
[2016]
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| Series: | Studies in English language.
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| Subjects: |
| Summary: | 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. |
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| Physical Description: | xvii, 342 pages ; 24 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 323-337) and index. |
| ISBN: | 9781107055759 110705575X |