Hljóðfall
Hljóðfall is an Icelandic term referring to the phenomenon of sound change in language, specifically how pronunciation evolves over time. It is a broad concept that encompasses various types of phonetic shifts, including assimilation, dissimilation, deletion, and insertion of sounds. Understanding hljóðfall is crucial for tracing the historical development of the Icelandic language and its relationship to other Germanic languages.
One common type of hljóðfall is assimilation, where a sound becomes more similar to an adjacent sound.
These sound changes are not random but often follow predictable patterns. They can be influenced by factors