Download or read book Word Frequency and Lexical Diffusion written by B. Phillips and published by Springer. This book was released on 2006-09-29 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study of word frequency effects on sound change provides a resolution of the Neogrammarian controversy. Betty S. Phillips discusses the implications for phonology and historical linguistics of certain types of change affecting the most frequent words first and other types of change affecting the least frequent words first.