GRIMM'S LAW, the name—derived from the discoverer, J. Grimm (q.v.)—given to the principle which regulates the interchange of the mute consonants in the corresponding words of the different Aryan languages. A historical survey of this family of tongues shows the consonants to go through a cycle of changes (Ger. Lautverschiebung). What, for example, was a p in the original form of a word, or, at least, in the oldest form known, is found at a later stage transformed into f, which next passes into b; and this again tends to become p, and go through the cycle anew. The following table exhibits the transitions that manifest themselves in regard to the Greek, Gothic, and old high German: Labials. Den tals. Gutturals.
Greek (Latin, Sanscrit), p b f t d th k g ch Gothic, f, p b th t d k k Old High German, b (v) f p d z t g ch k There are of course many exceptions, arising from the influence of adjoining letters and other accidental causes. The following are exambles of the law:
Old High.
Sanscrit. Greek. Latin. Gothic. German.
pada-s pod-os pedis Vitus vnoz,, pitrl pater pater fadrein (pl.) vatar bhri phero fero bairn piru tram tu tu thu du trayas treis tres threis dri pactt poll peens faihu vihu It is in the high German dialects that the action of this principle is most marked. In the Teutonic tongues of the "low" type, of which English is one, the consonants have remained at the same stage of development they had attained in the Gothic (e.g. Eng. father, foot, bear, three); the old high German exhibits a third stage; and in modern high German the principle seems still at work, although its development is hin dered by the crystallizing effect of written language.