Methodological and Theoretical Issues in the Study of Chain Shifting

A chain shift is a series of two or more sound changes that are related through a kind of chain reaction. The nature of the relationship between elements in a chain shift is a matter of debate among linguists from various sub‐fields. Examining this relationship raises questions about the nature of linguistic change and indeed about how language works in general. This article explores how the process of chain shifting is investigated with a focus on studies of active language changes (i.e., changes in progress) including the Northern Cities Shift and the New Zealand Front Vowel Shift. Among the questions considered are (1) how the changes involved in a chain shift are related, and (2) how phonemic contrasts are preserved during the chain‐shift process.