Great Vowel Shift

English

Etymology

Coined by Otto Jespersen (1860–1943), Danish linguist.

Proper noun

the Great Vowel Shift

1. (phonology) A major change in the pronunciation of the English language, affecting the sounds of long vowels, that took place in England between 1350 and 1700.

   Because English spelling was becoming standardized in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Great Vowel Shift is responsible for many of the peculiarities of English spelling.

Translations

major change in the pronunciation of the English language

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 元音大推移 (Yuányīn Dà Tuīyí)

• Dutch: grote klinkerverschuiving f
• Finnish: suuri vokaalisiirros
• French: grand changement vocalique
• German: Große Vokalverschiebung f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Japanese: 大母音推移 (dai boin suii)
• Polish: wielka przesuwka samogłoskowa f
• Portuguese: grande mudança vocálica f
• Spanish: gran desplazamiento vocálico m