an intermediate bilabial stage , although no distinction between and was made in writing. It can be assumed that the two sounds merged early on. The letter stands for a voiceless fricative that is distinct somehow from . The exact nature of the distinction is unknown; possibly was apical while was laminal (a similar distinction exists in Basque and formerly in Old Spanish). It remained distinct from throughout Old High German and most of the Middle High German period, and was not affected by the late Old High German voicing of prevocalic to . In many West Central German dialects, the words ("that, what, it") did not shift to , even though t was shifted in other words. It is not quite clear why these exceptions occurred. Examples: Old English : Old High German (English sleep , Dutch : German ) OE : OHG (English street , Dutch : German ) OE : OHG (English rich , Dutch : German ) Phase 2 In the second phase, which was completed by the 8th century, the same sounds became affricates in three environments: in word-initial position; when geminated; and after a liquid ( or ) or nasal ( or ). > (also written in OHG) > (written or ) > (written in OHG). Examples: OE : OHG , (English apple, Dutch , Low German : German ) OE : OHG , (English sharp, Dutch , Low German : German ) OE : OHG (English cat, Dutch , Low German : German ) OE : OHG (English tame, Dutch , Low German : German ) OE : OHG (English lick, Dutch , Low German , German : High Alemannic , / ) OE : OHG , (English work, Dutch , Low German , German : High Alemannic /) The shift did not take place where the plosive was preceded by a fricative, i.e. in the combinations . also remained unshifted in the combination . OE : OHG (English sparrow, Dutch , German ) OE : OHG (English mast, Dutch , Low German , German ) OE : OHG (English night, Dutch , Low German , German ) OE : OHG (English true, Dutch , Low German , German ; the cognates mean "trustworthy","faithful", not "correct","truthful". Although, English true can mean "faithful" as well in some instances, like in a phrase such as "he stayed true to her".) Following also prevented the shift