Consonants and processes affecting consonants

V and W

In most speakers, /w/ is variable occurring as [w] or more commonly, especially word-initially as a labiodental approximant [V] - e.g. ven the vether is vet (‘when the weather is wet’); tin vistles (‘…whistles’), the Prince of Vales (‘…Wales’), and veel (wheel). The opposite change – [w] for /v/ also occurs, but this is rare – e.g. ower for ‘over’. Hancock (1991:20) comments as follows:

The most evident feature is the transposition of [v] and [w], which is widespread in the island and coastal dialects (e.g in Pitcairn, Norfolk, Gullah, some varieties of Nova Scotian, & c.), and which have sometimes fallen together as [v] or [ß]. This feature was common in some 19^th Century British dialects, but has largely disappeared in Britain.