Dictionary

sound law en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈsaʊnd lɔː/ (UK)
• /ˈsaʊnd lɔ/ (US)
• /ˈsaʊnd lɑ/ (US, cot-caught-merger)

Etymology

Calque of German Lautgesetz.

Meanings

1. A rule that describes historical sound change (the change in pronunciation of a given sound or cluster of sounds) in the development of a language.
   • Then, to oversimplify, if there are similarities in sound and meaning between two words that do not obey the sound laws that have been established, we conclude that they have resulted from borrowing. 1877, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, page 118:
   • For reasons that will become clear shortly, this limitation of sound laws to a specific time is an important trait. 2000, Andrew L. Sihler, Language History, John Benjamins Publishing Company, page 50:
   • In conclusion, we present the sound laws of Old Icelandic in the chronological order which represents the results of this dissertation. 1940, Ainsley Maxwell Carlton, A Relative Chronology of Old Icelandic Sound Laws, Leland Stanford Junior University, page 114:

Forms

Relateds

dissimilation · lenition · phonological change · apheresis · nasalisation · prothesis · nasalization · aphaeresis · metathesis · syncope · sandhi · haplology · tonogenesis · apocope · elision · assimilation · epenthesis

Translations (15)

pl prawo fonetyczne (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · pl prawo głosowe (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · ru фонети́ческий зако́н (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · fi äännelaki (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · pt lei fonética (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · nl klankwet (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · el φωνητικός νόμος (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · hu hangtörvény (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · de Lautgesetz (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · fr loi phonétique (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · es ley fonética (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · it legge fonetica (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · hy հնչյունական օրենք (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · da lydlov (rule that describes historical sound change in a language) · ka ფონეტიკური კანონზომიერება (rule that describes historical sound change in a language)