ABSTRACT
This chapter is about major changes in the pronunciation of English which took place in the Middle English and Early Modern English periods. The changes were caused by what is known as the Great Vowel Shift. One of the issues that gets to be discussed in this short chapter is the fact that English spelling does not well represent the way English is pronounced. Think about this issue before you read the chapter. Give examples of where spelling and pronunciation are at odds in Present Day English. What might have caused mismatches to occur? Might it be remedied, and if so, how? If possible, think too about the relationship between pronunciation and spelling in another language you know.
