Consonants

Semi-vowels: W/WH, J

Word-initial WH realized by the voiceless labial-velar fricative [M] is a recognized feature of Irish and Scottish speech, and of that of the most northerly parts of England. There is evidence that this is a recessive feature in all these accents, however. Its recessive nature in RP is signified by its status as a feature of the Refined and, variably, the traditional varieties of that accent only.

Apparently due to the influence of Welsh phonology, initial /w/ is occasionally dropped in Welsh English before close back rounded vowels.

Yod-dropping is one of the most distinctive characteristics of northern East Anglian speech, where /j/ is absent before /u:/ after all consonants. The feature is reported in more limited measure in Ireland, Wales, the West Midlands and the South of England.