--- /Soundex.java	2023-07-05 02:59:32.390051581 +0200
+++ /Codec-1/src/java/org/apache/commons/codec/language/Soundex.java	2023-07-05 02:59:32.390051581 +0200
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@
         // map() throws IllegalArgumentException
         char mappedChar = this.map(str.charAt(index));
         // HW rule check
-        if (index > 1 && mappedChar != '0') {
+if  (  mappedChar != '0' )  {
             char hwChar = str.charAt(index - 1);
             if ('H' == hwChar || 'W' == hwChar) {
                 char preHWChar = str.charAt(index - 2);
