The deletion of [x] in Proto-Germanic and in Old English

Abstract

The voiceless velar fricative [x]. one of allophones of the phoneme /x/, is deleted in Proto-German and in Old English. This papar argues that the [x] Is deleted when posited in three kinds of weak positions at mora, syllable, and foot level simultaneously: in the moraless position, in the onset of non-head syllable, and outside the head foot. Also, it is claimed that even though located in the strong position at the foot level, that is, in the head foot, the [x] is deleted if posited in the weak positions at both mora and syllable level: in the moraless position and in the coda of syllable.