[kali]

Does anyone know how to explain the difference in the pronunciation of ea in the following words: beast, heaven, earth, create, and bread.
My friend is working in Kenya and needs some help. I don't have the answer but thought that someone else might.

[susan53]

Spelling/Pronunciation anomalies tend to have historical roots. The "ea" problem is connected to what is known as the "great vowel shift" which took place around the 16th century. In Middle English, many words spelt ee or ea (spelling was not then consistent and both variations were found) were pronounced /eI/ - so "breed/bread" or "see/sea" rhymed with modern braid and say. During the great vowel shift these words changed their pronunciation - but the spelling remained the same. Others with the same spelling - eg great - didn't change and retained the same /eI/ pronunciation as always.

Check here or here for more details.