Vowel shifts

Vowel shifts are gradual changes in the way vowel sounds are pronounced over time within a language. These shifts can alter how words sound and are understood, often occurring across centuries. For example, in English, the Great Vowel Shift (around 1400-1700) changed the pronunciation of many vowels, making them sound higher or longer. Such shifts influence language evolution, pronunciation, and spelling. They are natural processes driven by social, geographical, and cultural influences, shaping the way languages develop and diverge from older forms.