In Old English, 'ea' is a digraph that represents a specific vowel sound, often pronounced as a long vowel sound similar to the modern 'ay' in 'say.' This sound is significant in Old English phonetics as it appears in many words and contributes to the overall structure of the language, distinguishing it from other Germanic languages. Understanding how 'ea' functions helps in grasping the nuances of Old English vowel pronunciation and the impact on word meanings.
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