Problems with phonological chains

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Abstract
I. Chains are familiar in diachronic phonology as sets of shifts of the form A>B, B>C, C>D, etc. Well-known examples include the following (cf. Martinet, 1955: Ch. 2):(I)(a) Grimm's Law: bh>b>p>f(b) Azores Portuguese: a>doubt:>о>u>y(c) Great English Vowel Shift: æ>doubt:ēī>ai(d) Hauteville dialect: ề>doubt:ε>a>doubt:(e) High German Consonant Shift: d>>ts/s(f) Latin>Italian: kui>kwi>ki>tfiMartinet (1952, 1955) gives a ‘functional’ interpretation of this phenomenon, distinguishing between ‘push’ and ‘drag’ chains; King (1969), arguing from a generative point of view, rejects the ‘push’ variety, and considers ‘drag’ chains to be a case of rule simplification.

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