[NTG-context] inter-word spacing (initials)

I have the latest ConTeXt and am using mkii. One used to be able to reduce the spacing after an initial by by typing “.\<space>”, but this no longer seems to work. Compare the inter-word spacing in \starttext A. E. Samuel\crlf A.\ E.\ Samuel \stoptext If the is a difference here, I am having trouble seeing it; and on a typeset page, the gaps after the initials just seem too big. In general, I find that the spacing after certain characters ---e.g., “)”---has been increased of late. Is this in fact the case? Or should I go back to my old glasses? Cheers, Alan