It is natural that /k, t, p, c/ is aspirated when they are preceded or followed by an /h/. In Kangwon dialect, however, the aspiration is sometimes blocked, and it has not yet been investigated what prevents the application of the aspiration rule. Using the lexical data in Korean Dialect Data Base Vol. Ⅱ (1990), we investigated what are the principles, if there is any, behind the application, or blocking, of aspiration. We also investigated if and/or how the rule application varies among different varieties of Kangwon dialect. The results show, first, that /h/ aspiration primarily occurs by contracting /h/ and /k, t, p, c/. They also show that /h/ deletion and glottalization occurs in the same phonological condition. For example, [s`ikhigo], [s`igigo], [s`ik`igo] derived from /s`ikhiko/. Second, /h/ aspiration occurs far more frequently than /h/ deletion or glottalization. Third, the application of aspiration is dominant in Chunseong, Hongcheon, Wonseong, Hoengseong, Yeongwol, Myeongju, while /h/ deletion is dominant in Hwacheon, Yanggu, Inje, Goseong, Yangyang, Pyeongchang, Jeongseon, Samcheok, and glottalization in Yanggu, Goseong, Yangyang.
