In this contribution, I investigate the status of word-initial /h/- in Middle and Early Modern English. I propose that this phoneme is weak, in the sense of being deleted from the output in some contexts, though being present as a consonantal phoneme in the underlying representation. Different varieties of Middle and Early Modern English are distinguished on the basis of the different degrees of ‘weakness’ of word-initial /h/-. I also discuss the vari- ous steps towards the modern situation, namely the full re-establishment of /h/-.
Word-initial h- in Middle and Early Modern English
CRISMA, PAOLA
2009-01-01
Abstract
In this contribution, I investigate the status of word-initial /h/- in Middle and Early Modern English. I propose that this phoneme is weak, in the sense of being deleted from the output in some contexts, though being present as a consonantal phoneme in the underlying representation. Different varieties of Middle and Early Modern English are distinguished on the basis of the different degrees of ‘weakness’ of word-initial /h/-. I also discuss the vari- ous steps towards the modern situation, namely the full re-establishment of /h/-.File in questo prodotto:
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