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The Great Vowel Shift Diagrams




This image being the ussual depection of the long vowels that are to be effected by the great vowel shift, within a trapezoid representing the mouth showing points or articulation with /i:/ and /u:/ being "high" points, and /a:/ being a "low" point.



Normally this image would have arrows pointing to the next vowel to change, however, I do not completely agree with the chain theory, so i leave the arrows with the steps open for the viewer to fill in ideal occurrences of change. Another note is that illustrating the steps listed previously (in examples and rules page) would signify the "drag" theory of the two possible chain thoeries.




This step is the point of many arguements, and scholarly journals, arguing over the second step in the great vowel shift, on how it occurred as depicted by the chain theory.

The following links contain the sounds for the represented characters of the effected long vowels of the GVS.



/i:/
/e:/
/o:/
/u:/
/a:/
/:/
/:/
/:/
/ai/