Peculiar Features of the Phonetic System of the Uzbek Language Kattakurgan State Pedagogical Institute Faculty of Philology and Social Sciences Department of Uzbek Language and Literature, Group 25_04 Student: Abulqosimova Bahora
Abstract: This scientific article analyzes the peculiar features of the phonetic system of the Uzbek language. The study investigates the pronunciation of vowels and consonants, their changes in phonetic processes, and their roles in word formation. Additionally, phonetic phenomena such as stress, intonation, and assimilation are highlighted as factors influencing semantic distinctions in the language. The article also examines phonetic changes that have occurred throughout the historical development of the Uzbek language and their reflections in dialectal variations. The research findings hold theoretical and practical significance for ongoing studies in the fields of phonetics and phonology.
Keywords: Phonetics, phonology, vowel sounds, consonant sounds, stress, intonation, assimilation, pronunciation, phonetic system. Introduction: Language is the most important social phenomenon of humanity and serves as the primary tool of communication among people. The formation and development of any language are primarily manifested through its phonetic system, as speech sounds constitute the fundamental material of language structure. Phonetic units are directly related to all levels of language — lexical, grammatical, and morphological — and play a crucial role in accurately conveying meaning.
The Uzbek language belongs to the Turkic language family and possesses a phonetic system characterized by complex phenomena and unique features formed over its historical development. The pronunciation of vowels and consonants, their changes in phonetic processes, and their functions in word formation are key criteria defining the national characteristics of the language. In particular, features such as vowel length, consonant voicing and devoicing, as well as processes like assimilation, dissimilation, stress, and intonation, have a unique realization in Uzbek.
This article provides a detailed analysis of the peculiarities of the Uzbek phonetic system, the role of vowels and consonants in phonetic processes, and the differences found in dialectal variations. Furthermore, it examines how phonetic phenomena affect meaning distinctions and phonetic changes over the course of historical development, based on scientific sources. The research results are theoretically and practically significant for modern studies in phonetics and phonology.
Literature Review: Several prominent scholars have made significant contributions to the study of the Uzbek phonetic system. A. Mahmudov explored the pronunciation of vowels and consonants, their articulatory changes in speech processes, and described them using experimental methods. He relied on phonetic observations to establish norms of literary pronunciation. His work laid the scientific foundation for determining pronunciation standards and demonstrated the practical importance of phonetics.
Ayyub G‘ulomov specialized in theoretical linguistics and studied word formation and morphology in the Uzbek language. Although his work did not focus directly on phonetics and phonology, it emphasized language structure, word formation, and speech organization. His theoretical methodology is considered valuable in phonetic research.
Abdulhamid Nurmonov focused on the phonological system of the Uzbek language, the functions of phonemes, and positional and combinatorial features of language units. M. Mirtojiev investigated the structure of the vowel system in Uzbek, their labialization, height, and historical development. He also compared phonetic differences in Karluk, Kipchak, and Oghuz dialects.
S. Otamirzayeva discussed the impact of phonetic phenomena on the teaching process, highlighting the role of stress, intonation, and assimilation in speech. M. Yusupova conducted an in-depth analysis of consonants, including voicing and devoicing relationships, and outlined rules and patterns of phonetic changes. A. Hojiyev developed theoretical foundations of phonology, paying special attention to the meaning-distinguishing function of phonemes. Sh. Rahmatullayev specialized in historical phonetics, analyzing phonetic changes in ancient written sources.
The works of these scholars have enriched the theoretical and practical understanding of the Uzbek phonetic system and contributed significantly to the development of phonetics as a discipline.
Analysis and Results: The Uzbek phonetic system shares common features with Turkic languages while exhibiting unique national characteristics. Research shows that the articulatory features of vowels and consonants, their changes during speech, and phonetic rules have evolved throughout the language’s historical development. Analysis of the vowel system demonstrates classification based on labialization, front-back position, and tongue height. Historical developments include certain phonetic changes, such as the shortening of long vowels in Old Turkic. In dialectal speech, vowel position shifts give rise to phonetic variants.
Stress and intonation play a crucial role in proper comprehension. Phonetic rules are key in establishing standards of literary pronunciation. Scientific studies in phonetics have shown that speech sounds possess not only physical and physiological characteristics but also semantic properties. Overall, studies on Uzbek phonetics provide a systematic understanding of phonemes, their role in distinguishing meaning, and factors influencing historical development. This strengthens the theoretical foundation of phonetics and contributes to the formation of literary language norms.
Conclusion: The phonetic system of the Uzbek language represents a fundamental layer of the language’s internal structure. The system of speech sounds, their articulatory and acoustic properties, and the role of phonetic processes are central to the field of phonetics. Sounds are not only the material basis of speech but also serve as meaning-distinguishing elements that connect language units. Therefore, scientific study of the phonetic system is essential for shaping literary norms, improving pronunciation culture, and enhancing overall speech culture in Uzbek.
In the Uzbek sound system, vowels and consonants function in harmony. Vowels are classified by labialization, front-back position, and tongue height, while consonants are categorized by voicing-devoicing, plosive-fricative, and sonorant characteristics. Phonetic processes — such as assimilation, dissimilation, stress, intonation, and elision — ensure natural adaptation of speech sounds and play a vital role in conveying the meaning of words and sentences. Research in phonetics confirms that the Uzbek phonetic system is continuously developing and evolving. Historical sound changes, dialectal variations, and pronunciation peculiarities reflect the richness and national spirit of the language. A thorough understanding of phonetic theory expands linguistic knowledge and provides a scientific foundation for teaching Uzbek, reinforcing literary standards, and developing speech culture.
References: Mahmudov A. Issues of Uzbek Literary Phonetics. – Tashkent: Fan, 2007. Mirtojiev M. The Vowel System in the Uzbek Language and Its Development. – Tashkent: O‘qituvchi, 1991. Otamirzayeva S., Yusupova M. Phonetics, Orthography, Orthoepy, and Orthography. – Tashkent: O‘qituvchi, 2010. Hojiyev A. Explanatory Dictionary of Linguistic Terms. – Tashkent: Fan, 2002. Rahmatullayev Sh. Historical Phonetics of the Uzbek Language. – Tashkent: Universitet, 1995. Yoldoshev I., et al. Fundamentals of Linguistics. – Tashkent: Fan, 2014. Zokirova H., Nabiyeva D. Phonetics of the Uzbek Language. – Andijan: ASU Press, 2016.
ΣΥΝΤΟΜΟ ΒΙΟΓΡΑΦΙΚΟΗ Μάντυ (Διαμάντω) Πιστικού γεννήθηκε το 1974 στον Πειραιά. Λάτρης των Τεχνών και των Γραμμάτων, ξεκίνησε από πολύ μικρή να γράφει τα πρώτα της ποιήματα, στίχους και μουσικές συνθέσεις. Δίδαξε Αγγλικά επί σειρά ετών, δίνοντας έμφαση στα παιδιά με μαθησιακές δυσκολίες και την Τέχνη ως μέσο έκφρασης και διδασκαλίας. Διατέλεσε ως μέλος της TESOL Greece. Εργάζεται ως διοικητικό προσωπικό στο Εθνικό Κέντρο Αποκατάστασης. Αποφοίτησε από το τμήμα Ελληνικού Πολιτισμού στο Ελληνικό Ανοιχτό Πανεπιστήμιο έχοντας κερδίσει υποτροφίες αριστείας για όλα τα έτη των σπουδών της. Είναι κάτοχος του μεταπτυχιακού ‘Λαϊκός πολιτισμός και Λογοτεχνία’ στο ΕΚΠΑ. Έργα της έχουν διακριθεί σε διάφορους λογοτεχνικούς διαγωνισμούς. Γράφει για να εκφράσει τα συναισθήματα και τις ανησυχίες τις για διάφορα θέματα ενώ παράλληλα ονειρεύεται και πασχίζει να συμβάλλει σε έναν καλύτερο κόσμο
WISDOM OF A CHILD
Ιn far-off places, out of sight,
A child’s heart stirs with gentle light.
It seeks for peace, a place to be,
Inside this world’s uncertainty.
It hears the sighs from every land,
The suffering hard to understand.
It stands alone, with wondering eyes,
Watching the sorrows as they rise.
“Things can be simple, can’t you see,
When viewed with calm serenity?
Don’t chase the things that fade away—
Find peace within your heart today.”
“Listen a moment to the sound
Of innocence that’s all around.
Don’t search for vain and hollow praise,
Or glory lost in fleeting days.”
“Don’t look for profit, gold, or gain;
Just smile beyond the world’s disdain.
Taste love, and once you feel it grow,
That’s all you’ll ever need to know.”
“I tell you this—though I’m a child,
Still learning in a world so wild—
I know some truths, though small I seem,
More than the grown-ups dare to dream.”
SHORT BIO
Mandy (Diamanto) Pistikou was born in 1974 in Piraeus. A lover of Arts and Letters, she began writing her first poems, lyrics, and musical compositions at a very young age. She taught English for several years, with an emphasis on children with learning difficulties and on using Art as a means of expression and teaching. She has served as a member of TESOL Greece. She currently works as administrative staff at the National Rehabilitation Center. She graduated from the Hellenic Open University with a degree in Hellenic Culture, having been awarded excellence scholarships for every year of her studies. She holds an MA in “Folk Culture and Literature” from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her works have been distinguished in various literary competitions. She writes in order to express her emotions and concerns on various issues, while at the same time dreaming of and striving to contribute to a better world.
THE ROLE OF THE WORD IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
Qulliyeva Feruza Qosimovna Student of Termez State University
The first period of reform was marked by the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the main body after Uzbekistan achieved its independence. The Constitution is not only a legal document, but also the main foundation of society and its main weapon in the official Square. It should not be viewed only as a set of laws, since the Constitution is a bold step directly related to the life of every citizen, in the way of progressing the country and managing it with Justice. In the Explanatory Dictionary of the Uzbek language “Constitution Latin constitutio-designation, decision, appointment, legalization. The Basic Law of the state, which has a high legal force, is the basis of all current laws,” explained. As we read the Constitution, we can come across many foreign intrusive words.
The use of these words is not just a coincidence. A legal document requires, first of all, to show accuracy, to be simple and equally understandable to all. In this sense, the words of appropriation contribute to the representation of terminological accuracy in the Constitution, as well as the enrichment of the lexical layer of the Uzbek language. We read the Constitution, we can come across many foreign intrusive words. The use of these words is not just a coincidence. A legal document requires, first of all, to show accuracy, to be simple and equally understandable to all. In this sense, the words of appropriation contribute to the representation of terminological accuracy in the Constitution, as well as the enrichment of the lexical layer of the Uzbek language. The use of borrowed words ensures that the law complies with international standards and accurately and clearly conveys its legal content. We can divide words of assimilation into two parts according to their use in our language:
Active mastering-words that are actively used today, the content of which is understandable to all, have become the main terms of the legal language.
For example: democracy – (Greek “demos “ – people,” kratos “ – power) the freedom and equality of citizens is enshrined in the Constitution and laws, the forms of people’s power are established in practice and a specific political system; people’s power; Republic – (Latin for” common work“,” people’s work”) the form of government in which the Supreme state power belongs to the Authority (President or parliament); President – (Latin “prae” – ahead, “sedere” – to sit, to lead) a form of government in which the Supreme state power belongs to a body of power (President or parliament)elected for a certain period; a state with such a form of Government; article – (Arabic “subject”, “basis”) an independent branch of official document, complex, law and the like, separated by a number or letter; Parliament – (Latin “parlare” – to talk, talk) a higher representative and legislative body, which is drawn up in
Inactive introspections are words that are little used in everyday speech, difficult to understand, characteristic mainly of formal-legal texts.
For example: ratification – (Latin “ratificatio “ – approval, approval) approval of an international treaty or convention by a body of Supreme state power, to be legally enforced in the same countries; monopoly – (Greek” monos-singular, “poleo” – sell) an enterprise or association that is the sole owner of the production and sale of a product or service; a state of secluded dominance in the market; a speaker – (English “speaker“) is the chairman of Parliament or chairman of the chamber in the parliaments of a number of countries (including Uzbekistan); a denunciation – (French” denocer” – declare, inform) that a state.
These words, which are found in the Constitution, are not the sum of phrasal terms. These words, recognized and actively used in the international arena during today’s globalization, have had time to become a mirror that shows the political level of each country. These words, which are found in the Constitution, are not the sum of phrasal terms. These words, recognized and actively used in the international arena during today’s globalization, have had time to become a mirror that shows the political level of each country. We cannot deny foreign inflected terms, because certain acquisition terms are so complete with their legal content that its complete replacement with a national language alternative can lead to a transformation of the content and purpose being expressed and misunderstandings.
For this reason, the application of the words of appropriation in our Constitution is determined by the need to accurately and clearly reflect deeply thought out and legal concepts. In conclusion, the place and level of appropriation words used in the Constitution are very important. While active appropriations have been absorbed into the life of society, serving to increase the legal literacy of the population, while at the same time enriching the language layer, inactive appropriation words are an integral, unified and necessary part of legal text and speech, through which they ensure the accuracy and consistency of the content in the laws of the Constitution.
The day we laid that cold crust of earth over your body, something in me went missing. I watched the people crying around the grave and couldn’t understand why they mourned someone they saw perhaps once a year. Then I looked at my mother. Silent, glittering in her overdressed elegance, as if she wanted you to envy her for still being alive. Perhaps it was her revenge for all those years spent chasing your approval and failing. After she divorced you, she drifted away from me too. I only wish it had happened sooner; her presence or absence never changed much.
Back home, the smell of grass and that fog-soaked cemetery settled in my mind. Objects lost themselves in that inner fog. I hunted for keys already in my pocket. In the narrow hallway between our two rooms, tasks slipped from my memory, and every cup of coffee went cold. Food tasted dull. I checked the stove, the doors, the water taps over and over. I fought life so hard that numbness wrapped itself around me. I went to bed exhausted and woke even more worn, my body nothing but bruised fatigue.
When the routine finally defeated me, the real battle began: the one inside. First came denial, the refusal to admit the weight of your absence. Then collapse. I cried, but the wound in my soul stayed hollow. And so, I began to write. The very work you never wanted for me. Not for you, who are gone and will remain gone, but for the version of you still living inside me.
I built stories about you, replayed memories. Then I realized the one inside me was not you at all. He was the father I had wanted. His face resembled yours through a softening veil of mist, but he was kind. He didn’t wait for me to fail. He didn’t frown or correct or sigh in disappointment. His small, cutting smiles were gone. I found memories that had never existed. In one, I had made a mistake, and the imagined you placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. You consoled me. Praised me. Forgave me. Touched me with a tenderness I had never known. Father.
Then, as if waking abruptly, another battle began. The first fight was with you. I pictured your aged body in the garden, the small red trowel in your hand. I sat you across from me on a chair, just as you used to sit in silence tending your flowers. No words, no criticism, no energy for long arguments.
I asked the image of you whether you had ever loved me. I cast you as guilty, myself as righteous. Your head was bowed while I hurled my anger and sorrow at your face. Why had you never praised me, even when I was promoted in the job you had insisted, I pursue? I showed you every wound. The day you left home. My mother clutching the phone, crying as she whispered about your selfishness. Her words sank into me, the same way they had sunk into her years before. And the night someone burned all my childhood photos. I always thought it was you. But no. It was her.
I stared at the cup of cold coffee in my shaking hand. My dry mouth. My reflection glaring back at me from the porcelain. That face was terrifyingly familiar. Yours. You had lived inside me all along. Fear seized the cup and shattered it against the floor. For a moment, time perched on the broken shards. The sound cracked something in me. Shame replaced anger. I felt a sudden tenderness for the old, silent man in my memories. He wasn’t the one who had hurt me. The face that had wounded me was right there in the fragments: the knotted brows, the thin white strands at the temples, that smug, dismissive curl of the lips. It was me. I was you, and you were the small boy who kept his eyes on the ground.
When I could breathe again, the second battle began. The one with myself. Had I ever loved you? Ever understood you? Had I ever been brave enough to ask to be touched, even once?
There was only one way to find an answer. I went through the old photo albums, damp with the smell of mold. Each page a tether to the past. My ninth birthday: my mother cooking your favorite dish, not mine. I still don’t know whether she feared you or wanted to force her way into your heart. My graduation photos from the field you had chosen for me. The New Year’s pictures smiling over a buried argument.
Anger. Then grief. Then contempt. Then something softer. Until I reached thirty-five years back. The winter day I slipped on the ice. My cheeks numb, my hands cracked and burning from the cold. You lifted me up, brushed me off. I searched your eyes for disapproval. Instead, you knelt so I could climb onto your back. I still feel the warmth of your shoulders on my frozen skin. You put a bandage on my scraped palms. You told me growing up always hurts.
I framed that photo of my bandaged hand and placed it where the missing piece of me used to be. The hollow in my chest began to fill, building a fragile bridge of memories and faint smiles. I turned the pages again and looked at the child in those pictures. Why had I never seen all those small smiles before?
Father, I wish you could have freed yourself from the stern man you had chained yourself to.
