(v) in initial position is less problematic, and this can probably be
explained by the fact that informants are more familiar with initial fricative
sounds in Thai, Ifl, Isl and /hI. Phonetically the initial (v) is easier for the
informants to pronounce: based on (f), they have to deal with only one
factor, Le. voicing. The problem is much less obvious in more formal styles
of minimal pairs and passage reading where (v) is realized as [v] in 80%
or more of occurrences. In conversation, however, the use of [v] never
exceeds 75.4% in any of the informant groups.