HISTORICAL PHONOLOGICAL CHANGES IN VOWELS AND CONSONANTS: GRIMM’S LAW AND VERNER’S LAW

Abstract

This article examines historical phonological changes in vowels and consonants with a particular focus on Grimm’s Law and Verner’s Law. These sound laws played a crucial role in the development of Germanic languages and helped linguists understand systematic sound change in historical linguistics. The paper discusses the main principles of Grimm’s Law, its limitations, and how Verner’s Law explains apparent exceptions. Through historical examples, the article demonstrates how consonant shifts influenced the evolution of English and other Germanic languages. The study highlights the importance of these laws in explaining regular phonological change and their relevance to modern linguistic research.