mˈɛltʃɚt nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ hæd ˈɔːlsoʊ ˈɜːlɪɚɹ ɐsˈuːmd ɐ kˈɑːntɹæst bᵻtwˌiːn ɐ klˈoʊsɚ mˈɪd fɹˈʌnt vˈaʊəl ˈæstɚɹˌɪskslæʃ ˈiː lˈɛŋθənd slˈæʃ pˌiːˌaɪˈiː ˈæstɚɹˌɪsk ˈaɪ jˈiːldɪŋ lˈeɪt hˈɪɾaɪt ˌaɪmˈækɹˌɑːn ænd ɐ mˈoːɹ ˈoʊpən ˈæstɚɹˌɪskslæʃ ˌoʊpənˈɛː lˈɛŋθənd slˈæʃ
Melchert (1994) had also earlier assumed a contrast between a closer mid front vowel */eː/ < PIE *ey (yielding Late Hittite ī) and a more open */ɛː/ <