LL-L "Phonology" 2003.03.05 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 05.MAR.2003 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: luc.hellinckx at pandora.be <luc.hellinckx at pandora.be>
Subject: Phonology

Beste liëglanners,

I'm not sure, but I might have an example of medieval, supranational
language building *s*
The case in point is what I should call diphtongisation. Probably somewhere
in the 14th century, West Brabantish had a vowel shift that changed the
pronunciation of long Germanic _i_ into something that is quite different,
and that I would like to write as _aë_.
For example :
fine (E) ~ fijn (D) ~ fein (G) ~ faën (B)
to bite (E) ~ bijten (D) ~ beiβen (G) ~baëtn (B)
wine (E) ~ wijn (D) ~ Wein (G) ~ waën (B)
This change (from an old frontal _ee_ like sound to a new guttural _a_ like
sound) must have occurred in many other places as well, because these days
Southern English, Brabantish and Southern German (is it a coincidence that
the standard for English, Dutch and German was "bred" there as well?) all
have similar sounds for this vowel (standard Dutch is a newcomer in this
respect because Holland copied this feature from Brabantish migrants in the
16th century).
Anyhow, most of the other Lowlands languages (e.g. West Flemish, Saxon and
Scots too I guess), retained the old sharp _ee_.
When did this phonological process start in English and in German?
What's the reason for this effect ? I can hardly believe in French influence
in this case, it must be some internal reason, but yet it's very strange
that this phenomenon took place almost simultaneously (???) in three regions
that are geographically quite far apart. Personally I've always thought that
this shift is much older, but that for sociological reasons it was never
reflected in written language (which must have been pretty highbrow and
hightech in those days). Not even in rhyming poetry.
Anybody have any ideas on this ?
If so, thanks in advance.
Kind greetings,

Luc Hellinckx

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