G'day Sir:

That documentary was probably the One that we saw over here (Australia) as "The Story of English", in 11 half hour programmes (I have it on videotape and occasionally re-run segments). I understand that there was also a very good accompanying book, which I have not seen. The series was very good in the area of the old UK regional accents that have survived and prospered in America.

Your point about the Jamaican pronunciation of H seems to describe a common feature of rural English worldwide. There are certainly Australian country accents where this feature is very common and I have heard it in other accents of remote areas.

Regards,

Bob Bolton