--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "Peter T. Daniels" <grammatim@...> wrote:

> > Interesting to confirm suspicions, although I'm not normally aware

of the

> > omitted initial aspirant (?) when I listen to the speech of others.
>
> voiceless w (so it's a single "segment" rather than aspiration followed
> by [w])

Free variation between [hw] and [W], much as [hj] v. [ç] in 'hew'.

Richard.