Grimm’s Law is a study of correspondences between certain consonants in the Germanic language and those found in Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit. A Danish scholar Rask discovered that these changes were regular and according to certain laws of change. This was more formulated by a German scholar Jacob Grimm. Grimm’s Law collects the basic principles of the first sound-shift. The changes are concerned with sound changes.
b, d, g are voiced explosive consonant sounds. p, t, k are voiceless explosive consonant sounds. Ph, th, kh are aspirated consonant sounds. The changes of consonant sound take place as follows :
ph, th, kh —————-> b, d, g
b, d, g ——————> p, t, k
p, t, k —————-> ph, th, kh
kuon canis hound (dog)
However, there are certain exceptions to Grimm’s Law. The Danish Scholar Karl Verner discovered that the operation of the law of sound-shifting depended on the position of the law which explained the puzzling linguistic phenomenon.
