sound change

Sound change refers to the gradual alterations in pronunciation that occur in a language over time. These changes can affect individual sounds (phonetics) or the systems of sounds (phonology) within a language. Factors influencing sound change include social interactions, geographical distances, and the natural evolution of language as speakers adapt for ease of communication. For example, the pronunciation of words might shift, leading to differences between dialects or historical forms of the same language. Sound change is a fundamental aspect of linguistics that illustrates how living languages evolve and adapt over generations.