Evolution of German

These are just notes to get my thoughts together for a test; no guarantee is given as to the accuracy of this information and the site license stands.

Evolution

Proto-IE to Proto-Germanic

Verner's Law

voiceless

p	t	k	kʷ
→
β/b	d/ð	ɣ/ɡ	ɣʷ/ɡʷ

The first sound shift

Continuant options if after a vowel

• {|border="1"

|+voiceless | p | t | k | kʷ | s |- | colspan="5" align="center" | → |- | f | θ | x/h | xʷ/hʷ | s |}

• {|border="1"

|+aspirated |- | bʰ | dʰ | ɡʰ | ɡʷʰ |- | colspan="4" align="center" | → |- | β/b | d/ð | ɣ/ɡ | ɣʷ/ɡʷ |}

• {|border="1"

|+voiced |- | b | d | ɡ | ɡʷ |- | colspan="4" align="center" | → |- | p | t | k | kʷ |}

Germanic to NW Germanic

• z → r

NW Germanic to West Germanic

• ð → d

West Germanic to OHG

Second Sound Shift

(a.k.a. Affricatisation)

• d → t
• β → b
• ɣ → ɡ