The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [ai] → [ɛ] Edit this Data

[ɛ]→[ai]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5

Open-mid front unrounded vowel to Diphthong ai

The diphthongization of [ɛ] to [ai] is a common process in vowel shifts, often occurring as part of a chain shift or through the development of an off-glide.

Phonetic Effects

Diphthongization

Language Examples

GVS stages [ɛ:]→Modern English [ai]— During the Great Vowel Shift, some open-mid front vowels eventually raised and diphthongized towards [ai] through various intermediate stages.

Related Transformations

More Germanic Shifts

Sources & References

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