Changes of Vowels From OE to ME (delabialization)

Palatal Mutation

Prolonged grade Normal or full grade Reduced grade (zero grade)

Vowel Gradation with Special Reference to Verbs

Lengthening of Vowels In Certain Conditions

In the 9^th century vowels were lengthened before the clusters nd, ld, mb: bi nd an > bī nd an “bind”, bu nd en > bū nd en “bound”, ci ld > cī ld “child”, wi ld > wī ld “wild”, cli mb an > clī mb an “climb”. If, however, the cluster was followed by another consonant, lengthening did not take place, as in cildru “children”. The characteristic feature of the clusters in question is that both consonants are articulated by the same speech organ and they are both voiced (so-called homorganic clusters).

The earliest set of vowel interchanges, which dates from PG and PIE, is called vowel grada­tion or ablaut. Ablaut is an independent vowel interchange unconnected with any phonetic conditions; different vowels appear in the same en­vironment, surrounded by the same sounds which arose from positional changes. Ablaut was inherited by Germanic from ancient IE.

The principal gradation series used in the IE languages— [e-o]—can be shown in Russian examples: нести~ноша (qual­itative).

Long vowel short vowel neutral vowel or loss of vowel

L. legi – elected lego -- elect R. --- беру – сбор-- брав

The principal gradation series used in the OG languages – [e/i – a]

E.g.: OE wrītan – OE wrāt

The OE tendency to positional vowel change is most apparent in the process termed "mutation". Mutation is the change of one vowel to another through the influence of a vowel in the succeeding syllable.

Palatal Mutation:

OE sala, Gt saljan — OE sellan — NE sale, sell

Gt sandjan — OE sendan — NE send

Gt laisjan — OE læran — NE 'teach'

In the OE period ie and iē could be changed for y, ÿ and i, ī. Diphthong ie, iē falls out from the system at the end of the OE period. Yet, in the OE the process of merging of front labialized with non-labialised vowels began. This process srarted with merging of - æ with – e, and – å – with – ë. After the dropping of æ and å, the only labialized front vowels occurred phonemes -y and - ÿ.

In the East and East-Central dialects phonemes ¹, ÿ remain in the same quality, whereasin Kent delabialization of - ¹, -ÿ was accompanied by opening i.e. the lessening of the rising.

In the Southern and Western dialects dephonologization of - ¹, -ÿ occurred in another way. It merges with u, ū — consequently, retains labialization and becomes back. This process took place in the XIV c. Before this time –y exists, though spelt as – u.

In the modern literary language different dialectal variants are reflected: bridge < brycg,

which < hwylc — East-Central form; much < mycel, blush < blyscan — Southern dialect; merry < myri, left < lyft — from Kentish.

The existence and struggle of dialectal forms are reflected in the spelling and pronunciation of bury and busy: in the first case spelling reflects Southern form and Kentish pronunciation, in the second — Southern spelling and East-Central pronunciation.

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