This research provides an overview of the phenomenon of /h/-deletion from Old English (OE) to Present-day English (PE). It discusses the patterns of /h/-deletion in OE, including the phonological environments where it occurs and those where it does not. Theoretical analyses of /h/-deletion in OE are reviewed, highlighting different perspectives on its phonological motivation. The paper then explores the development of /h/-deletion in Middle English, discussing the stages and theoretical analyses of the process. It further examines the sociolinguistic status of /h/ in PE, showing that its presence or absence is sociolinguistically determined rather than phonologically determined. The influence of social and regional factors on the variation of /h/-deletion in PE is discussed, emphasizing the role of social class and regional accents. Finally, this paper concludes by emphasizing the difference between phonological and sociolinguistic motivations for /h/-deletion in different periods in the history of English, suggesting the need for further research in this area.
1. Introduction
2. /h/-Deletion in Old English
3. /h/-Deletion in Middle English
4. Sociolinguistc Status of /h/ in PE
5. Concluding Remarks
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