During which period did the Great Vowel Shift occur?

The Great Vowel Shift was a significant linguistic change that primarily affected the pronunciation of vowels in the English language. This shift occurred during the late Middle English period and continued into the early Modern English period, roughly spanning from the late 15th century to the 18th century.

During the Middle English period, which lasted from approximately 1150 to 1500, the English language underwent various changes influenced by contact with Norman French and the evolving culture of England. As a result, the Great Vowel Shift marks the transition from Middle English to Modern English, transitioning the language's phonetic structure significantly.

When considering this historical context, the correct answer emphasizes that the Great Vowel Shift was most closely aligned with the characteristics of the Middle English period, as the major phonetic changes began to take root during this time even as they continued into the other periods afterwards.