П. Г. Житецький і О. О. Шахматов: методологічний аспект

The analysis of Zhytets'kyi's «Essay on the Sound History of the Ukrainian Language» in the context of comparative linguistics of late XIX ct. — early XX ct. proves that the priority in setting the problem of vocal and consonant interrelation in the history of Eastern Slavic (and wider — Slavic) languages belongs to Zhytets'kyi. Claims concerning the inverse impact of consonants on vocals were first suggested in Shakhmatov's researches, who considered connection of vocals and consonants in the history of the Slavic languages as mutual interaction.