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H-GLIDING
This dependent change took place in ME. In mid-word or word final position, when
followed by a consonant, h provoked a gliding. If h was followed by a front vowel, the
gliding was j. If h was followed by a back vowel, the gliding was w. Later, the j and the w
were vocalized to i and u, respectively and joined the previous vowel to form a long vowel
or a diphthong.
ME i + h + t > i + j + h + t> i + i + h + t > + h + t
ME e + h + t > i + h + t > i + j + h + t> i + i + h + t > + h + t
Palatal
h-gliding
Umlaut
ME u+ h + t > u + w + h + t> u + u + h + t > + h + t
ME o + h + t > o + w + h + t> o + u + h + t > ou + h + t > 17th + h + t
Monophthongization
bc it is followed by ht
In the case of OE a, h gliding took place at the end of the period, so that h developed a w
(and not a yod, as would have otherwise been the case, given that a in ME had a front
place of articulation).
OE > lOE + h + t > > + w + h + t> + u + h + t > u+ h + t> ME au + h + t
Long vowels in OE experienced the same process. When long dipthongs resulted,
frequently, they were shortened bc they were in close syllables.
CLOSING OF e
When followed by a velar consonant OE e became ME i.
g
g
OE e + n +
> ME i+n+
k
k