Re: [tied] Re: IE thematic presents and the origin of their themati

At 7:51:36 PM on Thursday, September 22, 2005, Rob wrote:

> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "elmeras2000" <jer@...>
> wrote:

>>> I see. What caused the /e:/ to be lowered and
>>> centralized to /a:/ ~ /&:/ (where '&' = OE <ae>)?

>> A change in people's speech fashions.

> Obviously. Can you try to explain it in phonological
> terms?

What kind of explanation would you like? To take a known
example, what cause would you suggest for the change of /æ/
to /i&/ (or /e&/) in the first stage of the Northern Cities
Shift?

Brian