P and ПOriginally Posted by gRomoZeka
V and В are exactly the same though. The only difference is in aspiration
Х and H are not. You probably can't do a proper English H, and probably say something like Russian X which is why you think they are very close.
They are not. (Incidentally, Ukrainian Г is the closest you can get to English H).
English H is a Glottal frictive. It is produced at the glottis, the flap that closes off the 'wind pipe' from the 'food pipe'. It is at the back of the throat, and down a bit.
Rusian X is a Velar frictive, produced at the back of the tongue, at the same position as K. The difference in location of the Glotis and where X is pronounced is large.
[The difference between Ukrainian Г and Enlgish H, is that the Ukrainian letter is a VOICED Glottal frictive, whereas the English is VoiceLESS.
Voiced = with vibrating vocal cords
Voicelss = just air, not vibration of vocal cords.
E.g. V is a VOICED labiodental frictive, F is a VOICELESS labiodental frictive.]
So, yes, maybe if you mispronounce X is doesn't matter than much. But you can no way compare the difference between Russian В and English V, with the difference between Russian X and English Н.
Afterall, if Russian X was that close to English H, where do we transliterate it as Kh, and not just H?