2.2. Vowels

The symbols representing vowels in classical Old English were usually monofunctional, i.e. each letter corresponded to a certain sound. Vowel-length was often (but not always) denoted by a slanting stroke (a), but we shall use the traditional sign (a).

Monophthongs: short

long

Diphthongs: short

Long

2.2.1. Changes of stressed vowels

a) Palatal Mutation

This is the name given to a kind of regressive assimilation caused by the sounds [i] and [j] in the 6^th century. Under the influence of [i] or [j] the vowels of the preceding syllable moved to a higher front position.

E.g. [ā] > [æ] OE

[æ] > [e] Gt. badi || (corresponds to) OE. bedd

[ō] > [ē] Gt. dōmjan || OE. dōm, dēman (E. doom, to deem)

[ū] > [y] OHG. kuning || OE. cyning

ēa

> īe OE. eald but ieldra (E. old – elder)

ēo

The palatal mutation has left many traces in Modern English. The ensuing vowel interchange serves now to distinguish:

1. different parts of speech: doom – to deem, food – to feed, blood – to bleed, full – to fill, Angles – English, long – length;

2. different forms of a word: tooth – teeth, foot – feet, mouse – mice, old – elder.

b) Velar Mutation

This is another regressive assimilation called forth by the velar vowels [u, o, a]. It took place in the 7^th – 8^th centuries and was of comparatively small importance for the further development of the English language. Under the influence of [u, o, a] the front vowels [i, e, æ] of a preceding syllable were usually diphthongized.

As we see, the assimilation was partial, since only part of the front vowels became velar. But after the sound [w] full assimilation occurred.

E.g. OE. widu > wudu (E. wood)

OE. werold > worold (E. world)

c) The Diphthongization of Vowels after Palatal Consonants

After the palatal consonants [j] (written ) and [k`] (written c) most vowels were diphthongized into [ie, io, eo, ea]. It was a long process which continued up to the 9^th century, but it did not take place in some of the Old English dialects. Later on these diphthongs were usually monophthongized again.

E.g.

d) The Lengthening of Short Vowels before Certain Consonant Combinations

Before the combinations (ld, nd, mb), i.e. a sonorous consonants plus a homorganic voiced plosive, not followed by a third consonant, short vowels were lengthened, apparently in the 9^th century, though graphically it was often marked much later.

E.g.

2.2.2. Changes of unstressed vowels

a. Unstressed long vowels were gradually shortened in all the Germanic languages. In English this process was completed during the earliest part of the Old English period. All the long vowels became short, and all the diphthongs were monophthongized in an unstressed position.

b. Unstressed vowels often fluctuated, which is seen from their representation in spelling.

Comp. OE. woruld, worold;

c. The weakening of unstressed vowels took shape of changes such as the change of [ ] to [e], [u] to [o], etc.

d. Very often the weakening resulted in the loss of the unstressed vowel. After long syllables it occurred earlier and much more often than after short ones.

e. Sometimes new unstressed vowels developed, especially before r, l, n.

In spite of the long process of weakening, the OE final unstressed syllables contain various vowels – a, o, u, e, i.

In comparison with the later stages of its development, Old English strikes one as a language with developed endings, which justifies the name given it by the well-known English philologist H.Sweet – ‘the period of full endings’.

Lecture 5