Consonant changes refer to the alterations in the pronunciation or form of consonant sounds in a language over time. These changes can occur due to various factors, including regional accents, language contact, and the natural evolution of speech. For example, the Great Vowel Shift in English led to significant changes in how certain consonants were pronounced. In linguistics, consonant changes can also involve processes like assimilation, where a consonant sound becomes more like a neighboring sound, or dissimilation, where it becomes less similar. These changes can affect the way words are formed and understood, influencing the overall development of a language, such as Old English evolving into Modern English.