Introduction

The great vowel shift is a series of changes that affected certain vowel sounds pronounced in the front part of the mouth. We're going to focus on the two highest front vowels, and we'll explore how the sound of those vowels evolved in the middle english period. Over the next couple of episodes, we'll continue our look at changes that took place in other parts of the mouths. Collectively, these changes will help to mark the transition from middle english to modern English.