Vowels change over time {vowel change}. Internal vowels can change qualitatively, change duration, or mute, to change meaning {vowel gradation}. Vowels in next syllables can cause internal-vowel changes {vowel mutation}. Nearby sounds can make vowels become diphthongs {vowel fracture}.
Similar words that vary in accent can then vary at vowel {ablaut}, such as irregular verb tenses.
Two vowel sounds can fuse into one sound {syneresis}.
Pure vowels, such as "i" and "e", can change to semivowels {yodization}.
Internal vowel changes can show verb past tense or noun plurals or oblique case {strong word}.
Rather than internal vowel changes, suffixes can show verb past tense or noun plurals or oblique case {weak word}, as in Germanic languages.
6-Linguistics-Grammar-Inflection
Outline of Knowledge Database Home Page
Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0225