Question

Which of the followings occurred due to the Great Vowel Shift of the English language?

• A. [a:] became [u:]
• B. All the front vowels shifted to back
• C. [ge:s] became [gi:s]
• D. The high, long vowels became diphthongized

Hint:

The Great Vowel Shift dramatically altered the pronunciation of long vowels in English, particularly in the transition from Middle to Early Modern English.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B, D

Step 1: Understanding the Great Vowel Shift.
The Great Vowel Shift refers to a major change in the pronunciation of the vowels in the English language. This shift involved the raising and diphthongizing of long vowels, particularly in the Middle English period.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (1) [a:] became [u:]: This is not true according to the Great Vowel Shift. There was no such vowel shift from [a:] to [u:].
- (2) All the front vowels shifted to back: This is correct, as many of the front vowels shifted to back positions.
- (3) [ge:s] became [gi:s]: This is not part of the Great Vowel Shift. This is a different kind of phonological change.
- (4) The high, long vowels became diphthongized: This is correct. Many of the high long vowels became diphthongs during the shift.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answers are (2) and (4) based on the description of the Great Vowel Shift.