In this meticulous study, the author challenges the prevailing views on early English pronunciation, particularly with respect to the works of Chaucer and Shakespeare. Drawing on an exhaustive range of evidence and research, the author presents a compelling case for a new approach to the study of early English pronunciation. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1869.

This book covers the historical development of the English phonological system from its earliest reconstructed and recorded forms to its most recent variations.