no, the "k" and "q" are made with different parts of the mouth, it is not just the "u" which makes them sound different. The k is produced with the middle of the tounge against the palette and the tip of the tounge well down. The "q" is made with the back of the tounge and the tip of the tounge held up. Equally with "sh" and "sch" the sounds are created differently. This disregard for pronunciation, despite good enunciation, makes many American accents sound crass to english speakers in Britain. Peter (UK) On 2 September 2014 23:26, penstemon <penstemon@q.com> wrote: > > and do you pronounce "kilt and "quilt" as indistinguishable too? In British > English, for these, the mouth shapes differently and produces different > sounds. > > > In American English, too. "Kilt", and "kwilt". (I hardly ever use either > word.) >