Old English "Short EA"

SOURCE

CHANGE

/æ'/

Spelling: ea

eahta "eight"
wealdan "govern"

Diphthong: OE /æ/ + unstressed middle vowel /'/. The vowel of PDE bat + the vowel of PDE but.

SOUND

CHANGE

REFLEX

OE /æ/

Breaking

Smoothing

ME /a/

OE /æ/

Palatal diphthongization

Umlaut

OE /y/

SOURCE	CHANGE	/æ'/ Spelling: ea eahta "eight" wealdan "govern" *Diphthong: OE /æ/ + unstressed middle vowel /'/. The vowel of PDE bat* + the vowel of PDE but. SOUND**	CHANGE	REFLEX
OE /æ/	Breaking		Smoothing	ME /a/
OE /æ/	Palatal diphthongization		Umlaut	OE /y/

OLD ENGLISH "SHORT EA"