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first meaningful part of the word (root-syllable). This fixed
stress couldn’t but result in weakening of unstressed positions

which in its turn resulted in neutralization of certain vowels,
dropping, change of their quality and quantity. Verner’s Law,

however, shows that the root vowel in GLs might be unstressed
and this lead to the conclusion that originally GLs had a free

stress system.

FOR GREATER UNDERSTANDING

Questions

1. What is Grimm’s Law?

2. How can laws of sound change be used to reconstruct lost
languages?

Suggested Reading

1. Аракин В. Д. История английского языка: Уч.
пособие. – 2-е изд. – М.: ФИЗМАТЛИТ, 2003. – 272

с . – C. 21-33.
2. Расторгуева Т.А. История английского языка: учебник /

Т.А. Растргуева. – 2-е изд., стер. – М.: Астрель: АСТ,

2007. – 275, [4] с.: ил. – На англ.яз. – С. 55-148.
3. Michael D.C. Drout. A History of the English Language

(Modern Scholar). – Wheaton College: Recorded Books

LLC, 2006. – P. 64-79.
4. Верба Л.Г. Історія англійської мови. Посібник для

студентів та викладачів вищих навчальних закладів. –
Вінниця: НОВА КНИГА, 2006. – C. 18-95.

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