Examine the relationship between spelling and pronunciation in Old and Middle English and the attempts of reforms in orthography in later periods.Evaluate the reforms.

The Old and Middle English evolved with their influences from the languages of the ruling powers. Manuscripts provide evidence of the changes in orthography and hints at the changing pronunciation as the seat of power passed from the Germanic Anglo-Saxon to the French Norman. As a result, there was a constantly changing relationship from the phonemically characterised spelling of the Old English to one whose spelling may not reflect the pronunciation in the Middle English. …

…onunciation has gone through much changes. But it would not retrace its steps to the Old English where it faithfully fixed the spelling on the phonemic characteristics of the words. But in the Middle English era, the pronunciation constantly changes but the spelling remained fixed. 2067words Bibliography Graddol, D; Leith. D; Swann J. (ed.) (1996). English: History, Diversity and Change. London: The Open University. Graddol, D; Cheshire J; Swann J. (2002). Describing Language. Buckingham: Open University Press.