American Journal Of Philological Sciences
177
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue06 2025
PAGE NO.
177-179
10.37547/ajps/Volume05Issue06-47
Development Trends of Modern Uzbek Dialectology
And Language Change Processes
Qoymurodova Gulmira Muxtorjonovna
Lecturer at the Department of Language and Literature Education at University of Business and Science, Uzbekistan
Received:
29 April 2025;
Accepted:
23 May 2025;
Published:
19 June 2025
Abstract:
This article explores the theoretical foundations of dialectology, language changes, and contemporary
research. Dialectology is a significant branch of linguistics that studies the regional and social varieties of a
language, namely dialects and vernaculars. Language changes occur under the influence of social, cultural, and
economic factors within society. The article also provides detailed information on the development of Uzbek
dialectology and its achievements during the independence period.
Keywords:
Dialectology, language change, Uzbek dialects, regional varieties, linguistics, contemporary research.
Introduction:
Dialectology is a significant
field of linguistics that studies the regional and social
varieties of a language, namely dialects and
vernaculars. This discipline helps to deepen the
understanding of the structure and functions of a
language by analyzing its historical development,
transformation processes, and speech characteristics in
different regions.
Dialectology, which deals with regional differences
within a language, plays a crucial role in understanding
language change. Modern research has expanded both
the theoretical and practical aspects of dialectology,
enabling more in-depth exploration of language
development and transformation.
The term dialectology originates from Greek and means
"knowledge about dialects and vernaculars." It
examines regional language variants
—
specifically
dialects
—
in terms of phonetics, vocabulary, and
grammar. The field develops in close connection with
linguistics,
ethnography,
and
folklore.
Uzbek
dialectology investigates the formation, distribution,
and characteristics of Uzbek dialects.
The theoretical foundations of dialectology focus on
identifying and classifying regional language variants
and studying their unique features. Among the major
contributions to the theoretical basis of Uzbek
dialectology is S. Ashirboyev's textbook "Uzbek
Dialectology," which provides detailed information on
the scientific-theoretical foundations of Uzbek dialects,
research methods, and classification. It also includes
lecture texts, practical training materials, and
independent study topics, and is intended for students
in Uzbek language and literature departments.
Similarly, T.J. Enazarov’s book "Uzbek Dialectology
"
discusses the theoretical basis for studying Uzbek
dialects. The author emphasizes the relevance of
researching Uzbek vernaculars from a scientific
standpoint. Published in 2012, the work presents
detailed information on the specific features of Uzbek
dialects and methods for studying them.
In addition, Sh. Bobojonova’s teaching manual "Uzbek
Dialectology" addresses both the theoretical and
practical issues of Uzbek dialects. The material is
designed to provide students with knowledge of the
theory and practice of dialectology and to help them
apply theoretical knowledge in practice. It includes
information on the classification and analysis methods
used in dialect research.
Overall, the theoretical foundations of dialectology rely
on methods for identifying, classifying, and analyzing
regional variants of a language. Studies in this field
contribute to a deeper understanding of language
development, historical changes, and regional
peculiarities.
Language change includes phonetic, lexical, and
grammatical transformations. Dialectological research
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
178
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American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
plays a key role in identifying and understanding these
changes. Dialects reflect the historical evolution of a
language, and studying them allows scholars to track
how the language has transformed over time. For
example, analyzing different Uzbek dialects makes it
possible to determine what types of changes the
language has undergone.
Dialectology examines the regional and social varieties
of language. It analyzes how language varies across
regions and populations, closely interacting with fields
such as ethnography and folklore. The dialectal
structure of the Uzbek language is complex, stemming
from its rich historical development and connections
with various ethnic groups. Professor E.D. Polivanov
noted in his work "Uzbek Dialectology and the Uzbek
Literary Language" that the presence of numerous
dialects distinguishes Uzbek from other Turkic
languages.
Language change is influenced by social developments.
These transformations manifest in vocabulary,
grammar, and phonetics. For instance, new
technologies or cultural influences may lead to the
creation of new words. Dialectology helps identify
trends in language development by studying these
changes.
Dialectology and language change are closely
interconnected, playing an important role in
understanding the development of language and its
regional features. Research in this field is essential for
preserving the richness of a language and passing it on
to future generations.
Currently, dialectological research is being conducted
using new technologies and methods. For example,
advancements in computational linguistics and corpus
linguistics are being applied in the collection and
analysis of dialectological data. These approaches
create new opportunities for identifying and modeling
language changes. Furthermore, modern dialectology
not only examines regional variations of a language but
also takes into account social, cultural, and historical
factors.
The modern dialectal layer includes newly formed
lexical units that have emerged during the
development and transformation of the language. This
layer introduces words reflecting modern concepts,
technologies, and social phenomena into the
vocabulary of the language.
Over the course of language development, some words
come to denote different things: when one meaning
becomes obsolete, the other takes on a new,
contemporary function. For example, the word "boy"
previously meant "nobleman", whereas today it is used
in the sense of "financially wealthy." As stated on the
website ilmiybaza.uz: "Some words, during the course
of language development, come to denote different
things. When one meaning becomes outdated, another
meaning is used in the modern layer."
Additionally, some words used in dialects can also
appear in literary language. For example, the word
"pishak" (cat) is used in the Samarkand dialect and is
also encountered in literary usage. According to
azkurs.org,
"The collection of dialectal words is referred to as
dialectisms… Some words from dialects may also be
found in literary language."
Studying the modern dialectal layer is important for
understanding the dynamics of language and
identifying its paths of development.
Several scholars have conducted significant research in
the field of Uzbek dialectology. For instance, scholars
such as Fattoh Abdullayev, Gʻozi Olim Yunusov, A.K.
Borovkov, and Shonozar Shoabdurahmonov have made
notable contributions to the study of Uzbek dialects.
Their works have been important in defining the
grammatical, lexical, orthographic, and phonological
norms of the Uzbek language.
Uzbek dialectology, a significant field that studies the
regional and social variants of the Uzbek language, has
gone through several developmental stages and
possesses a rich history and tradition. During the period
of independence, numerous scientific studies have
been conducted in this area. On May 20, 2023, an
international scientific-theoretical conference titled
“Research
on
Uzbek
Folklore
and
Dialects:
Qualification, Methodology, New Approaches” was
held at the Alisher Navoi Tashkent State University of
the Uzbek Language and Literature. This conference
discussed pressing issues in Uzbek dialectology.
The initial studies in Uzbek dialectology date back to
the early 20th century. During this period, linguists
focused on collecting and classifying Uzbek dialects. For
instance, in 1933, E.D. Polivanov, in his work “Uzbek
Dialectology and the Uzbek Literary Language”,
emphasized that the Uzbek language differs from other
Turkic languages due to its numerous dialects.
During the Soviet era, Uzbek dialectology developed on
a scientific basis. Various regional variants of the Uzbek
language were extensively studied, and scientific works
were produced. For example, in 1963, B. Jo‘rayev’s
“The Uzbek Literary Language and Dialects” was
published. In addition, in 1978, V.V. Reshetov and Sh.
Shoabdurahmonov co-
authored a book titled “Uzbek
Dialectology.”
After Uzbekistan gained independence, Uzbek
dialectology entered a new stage of development.
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
179
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
During this period, scholarly efforts to study dialectal
features of the Uzbek language continued. For
instance, in 1990, A. Ishayev published “Uzbek Dialectal
Lex
icography,” and in 1993, S. Rahimov published
“Dictionary of Surkhandarya Uzbek Dialects.” These
works focused on the study, systematization, and
scientific analysis of regional dialects.
On October 21, 1989, the Uzbek language was granted
the status of the state language, further increasing
interest in the native language and regional dialects.
Following the adoption of this law, numerous academic
events were organized in the field of Uzbek linguistics,
including dialectology. These events significantly
contributed to the scientific study of regional speech.
In the years of independence, several important
scholarly works on Uzbek dialectology have been
published. For instance, in 2012, T.J. Ernazarov and V.A.
Karimjonova co-
authored “Uzbek Dialectology,” wh
ich
comprehensively discusses the phonetic, lexical,
morphological, and syntactic features of Uzbek
dialects. In 2013, S. Ashirboyev’s book “Uzbek
Dialectology” was also published, offering detailed
insights into the unique features of Uzbek dialects and
their relationship with the literary language.
Research in the field of Uzbek dialectology during the
independence period contributes to the preservation
and development of the richness of our language and
helps us better understand our national culture
through the study of regional dialects.
Today, scientific research in the field of Uzbek
dialectology continues. In 2022, A. Eshnazarov
published an article titled “The Development of Uzbek
Dialectology and Related Phenomena.” The article
discusses the distinctions between the terms dialect,
subdialect, and vernacular, based on the research of
dialectologists and their relevance in the literary
language.
The development of Uzbek dialectology plays a key role
in preserving the richness of our language and passing
it on to future generations.
Modern research on dialectology and language change
helps deepen our understanding of regional language
differences and their development.
The quote you referenced is from Professor E.D.
Polivanov’s work “Uzbek Dialectology
and the Uzbek
Literary Language,” published in 1933. In this work,
Polivanov emphasized that the abundance of dialects
distinguishes the Uzbek language from other Turkic
languages.
New technologies and methods serve to make research
in this field more efficient. The advancement of Uzbek
dialectology plays an important role in preserving the
richness of our national language and transmitting it to
future generations.
REFERENCES
Ashirboyev.S. O‘zbek dialektologiyasi. Toshkent:
Nizomiy nomidagi TDPU. 2013.
Dialektologiya. OʻzME. Toshkent: Oʻzbekiston Milliy
Ensiklopediyasi. 2020.
Mengliyeva.R., Abdullayeva.S Zamonaviy o‘zbek
tilshunosligi taraqqiyoti omillari. Ta'lim innovatsiyasi va
integratsiyasi, 2024. 35-son, 71-74.
Sunatov. J.T. Tilshunoslikn
ing zamonaviy yo‘nalishlari.
Scienceweb. 2024.
Tilshunoslikda dialektologiya: mintaqaviy farqlar va
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O‘zbek dialektologiyasi. Toshkent davlat o‘zbek tili va
adabiyoti universiteti. 2022.
O‘zbek tili tarixi va dialektologiya bo‘limi. O‘zbekiston
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