ACTIVITY 1

One reason that the English writing system is so challenging to learn is because some letter combinations in English may result in different pronunciations in different words due to historic changes and borrowings from other languages over time. Compare the vowel sounds in the following pairs:

ou in souvenir vs. out

o in hotel vs. move

i in fatigue vs. whine

au in fraud vs. laugh

e in supreme vs. ledge

ei in receive vs. eight

Using Etymonline, a free online etymology dictionary, look up the source of the first word in each pair, and hypothesize about why it’s spelling maps to different sounds than in the second word (hint: you’ll find a pattern in the source for the first word). 

ACTIVITY 2

Note the following words that demonstrate the Great Vowel Shift in English:

Current word Middle English (ca. 1400) pronunciations

bite /beit/ bee-tuh /bitə/

beet /bit/ bait /beit/

beat /bit/ beh-t /bɛt/

abate /əbeit/ ah-bah-tuh /abatə/

boat /boʊt/ bot /bɑt/

boot /but/ boat /boʊt/

about /əbaʊt/ ah-boot /əbut/

Say the words above aloud in both the current and Middle English pronunciations, then read the

example from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in the original Middle English pronunciation. Consider how the changes in pronunciation since 1400 have affected the transparency of the spelling of these words (and the consistency of spelling in English).

1             Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote

When April with its sweet-smelling showers

2             The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,

Has pierced the drought of March to the root,

3             And bathed every veyne in swich licour

And bathed every vein (of the plants) in such liquid

4              Of which vertu engendred is the flour;

By which power the flower is created;

5             Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth

When the West Wind also with its sweet breath,

6              Inspired hath in every holt and heeth

In every wood and field has breathed life into