phonetic law

noun

Historical Linguistics.

1. a statement of some regular pattern of sound change in a specific language, as Grimm's law or Verner's law.

Example Sentences

We find occurring in surnames examples of those consonantal changes which do not violate the great Phonetic law that such changes can only occur regularly within the same group, i.e. that a labial cannot alternate with a palatal, or a dental with either.

From Project Gutenberg

According to phonetic law the latter word should have become litch in modern English; but it very early underwent a punning alteration which made it homophonous with the ancient word for physician.

From Project Gutenberg

The psychology of this phonetic law is entirely analogous to that of 1.The old drift toward reducing final syllables, a rhythmic consequence of the strong Germanic stress on the first syllable, now manifested itself.

From Project Gutenberg

It is highly significant of the nature of the slow spread of a “phonetic law” that there is local vacillation at present in several words.

From Project Gutenberg

If they all, or practically all, are taken by the drift, phonetic law 13 will be as “regular,” as sweeping, as most of the twelve that have preceded it.

From Project Gutenberg