* Pronunciation shifts didn't always match spelling: The GVS caused a major change in how vowels were pronounced, but the spelling of words largely remained the same. This created a disconnect between how words were spoken and how they were written. For example, the word "bite" used to be pronounced with a long "i" sound like "bee-tuh," but after the GVS, it changed to the short "i" sound, while the spelling stayed the same.
* Silent letters: The GVS also led to the development of many silent letters in English. For instance, the letter "e" at the end of words like "name" and "hope" was originally pronounced, but after the GVS, it became silent.
* Multiple spellings for the same sound: Because of the GVS, the same sound can often be spelled in multiple ways. For example, the "long a" sound can be spelled as "ai" (rain), "ay" (play), "a" (name), or "ei" (reign).
* Historical influence: English borrowed words from various languages, each with its own spelling system. The GVS further complicated things by altering the pronunciation of these borrowed words while often maintaining their original spellings.
In summary, the GVS, while a fascinating linguistic phenomenon, created a significant disconnect between pronunciation and spelling in English. This has resulted in a complex and sometimes inconsistent spelling system that can be challenging to learn and master.