Steve - "Welsch" refers in all German languages and dialects to the French speaking. In the battle of Kortrijk (Battle of the Spurs) where the cities of Flanders fought King of France's army their battle cry was: "What's Welsh that's wrong! Kill them all!" (Rhymes better in the original language.)

Coyote - That is no problem of the English alone; substituting a laryngal sound by the glottal stop you may find in Arabic dialects and even with the old Romans: they never were sure wether to say "harena" (sand) or "arena".

Wilfried