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volume 4, issue 4, 2025
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THE IMPORTANCE OF VOWEL SOUNDS IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGE
Samadova Dildora Gayriddin kizi
Samarkand State University
Urgut Branch, Faculty of Pedagogy and Language Teaching
Uzbek Language and Literature Department
2nd year student, Group 205 A
Abstract:
This article attempts to address the spelling of vowel sounds based on orthographic
rules, the similarities and differences of vowel sounds in pronunciation, and the characteristics of
vowel sounds in dialects and regional speech variants.
Keywords:
letter, sound, vowel sounds, Uzbek language, literacy, phoneme, primary school,
method, education.
In order to implement the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated October
21, 2019, "On measures to fundamentally increase the influence and status of the Uzbek
language as the state language," the "Concept for developing the Uzbek language and improving
language policy in 2020-2030" was adopted. This serves to enhance the legislation on the state
language in our republic and increase the international prestige of the Uzbek language. Vowel
sounds determine the melody, rhythm, and conciseness of speech. Incorrectly pronounced
vowels lead to words becoming incomprehensible.
In the process of teaching literacy, when introducing students to sounds and letters and teaching
them to read synthetically, the teacher must take into account the phonetic features of the Uzbek
language. Literacy instruction is conducted based on the analytical-synthetic sound method.
Words are divided into syllables, the target sound being studied is isolated from the syllable,
analyzed, and synthesized with the letter being learned. On this basis, the letter and the entire
reading process are mastered. In this process, the graphic system of the Uzbek language and the
characteristics of representing sounds in writing are taken into account.
During the literacy period, the introduction of sounds and letters begins with vowels. In modern
Uzbek, there are 6 vowel phonemes: a, o, i, e, u, o'.
The letter E is mainly used at the beginning of words and syllables (ekin, echki, aeroplan). After
a consonant, it is pronounced as a mid-wide, unrounded vowel (kel, tez). During literacy
instruction, students are first introduced to the letter "e" that appears at the beginning of a word,
and then to the "e" sound-letter that follows consonants.
The letter Oo in Uzbek and Turkic words represents the lower wide, labial sound Oo. In Russian-
international words, it is pronounced as 'a' in unstressed syllables (like in "zoology"), like the
sound 'ў' (as in "tonna" meaning ton), and as a short 'i' (as in "elektor" meaning elector).
Therefore, Russian-international words containing this vowel are introduced into the educational
process after the literacy period.
For elementary school students, work on the sound composition of words begins from the very
first days of literacy education. During this period, students learn to identify the sound structure
of spoken or heard words. They learn to analyze words phonetically and pronounce sounds in
order. Special attention is given to ensure that sound analysis is not confused with letter analysis.
A correct understanding of the sound structure of a word is also crucial for developing the skill
of writing without omitting or rearranging letters. Therefore, even after the literacy period, it is
necessary to continue working on improving the skill of determining the composition of sounds
in a word through exercises in sound analysis.
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When teaching the reading of words and syllables, it is necessary to pronounce sounds and letters
separately, taking into account the specific features of Uzbek language sounds and their
representation in writing. Students should be accustomed to reading words as a whole, following
the harmony of sounds, as in oral speech. In this process, special attention should be paid to the
combination of sounds (letters) and syllables.
The Uzbek language belongs to the Turkic language family, and vowels and consonants play an
important role in its phonetic system. Vowel sounds have a significant influence on the structure,
pronunciation, and meaning of words in speech.
The characteristics of vowel sounds are as follows:
In the Uzbek language, there are 6 main vowel sounds: a, o, u, i, e, ő. They differ in the
following aspects:
- Oral and nasal vowels - mainly oral vowels are used in the Uzbek language, but nasal vowels
are also found in some dialects.
- Front and back vowels - vowels like i, e are front vowels, while a, o, u, ő are back vowels.
- Soft and hard vowels - a, o, u, ő are classified as hard vowels, while i, e are classified as soft
vowels.
The importance of vowel sounds:
1. Distinguishing word meanings.
In some words, a change in the vowel sound completely alters the meaning of the word. For
example, olma (apple) - ulma (to die), eshik (door) - ishik (an ancient Turkic word).
2. Participation in word formation.
Vowel sounds play a crucial role in the addition of suffixes.
For example, uy + -im = uyum (under the influence of u in "uy," the sound i in the suffix -im
changed to u), bola + -lar = bolalar (the sound a was preserved).
3. Differences in dialects and sub-dialects.
In different dialects of the Uzbek language, vowel sounds are pronounced differently. For
example, the word "qiz" in some places can be pronounced as qëz or qöz.
4. Melodiousness and naturalness of speech.
5. The morphological role of vowels.
In the Uzbek language, vowel sounds perform the following functions in the process of word
formation:
- Adaptation of suffixes: uy + -im = uyim (the suffix takes the form -um under the influence of
the vowel u in "uy"), kitob + -lar = kitoblar (the suffix -lar is used under the influence of the back
vowel o).
- Changes in word roots:
Some verbs exhibit alternation of vowels (ablaut):
- yor- / yar- (light / to shine).
6. Dialectal differences of vowel sounds.
There are significant differences in the pronunciation of vowels in Uzbek dialects:
- Tashkent dialect: "o't" → ut, "o'g'il" → og'il.
- Kashkadarya dialect: "eshik" → ishik, "yetti" → yetti (the e sound is more distinct).
- Surkhandarya dialect: "qiz" → qëz (a nasalized variant of e).
7. Historical Evolution of Vowel Sounds.
- In ancient Turkic language, there were 9 vowel sounds (for example, ä, ï).
- In the Uzbek language, these sounds have been simplified and reduced to 6.
- In some words, historical vowels have been preserved: suv (old Turkic sub) = present-day suv
(water).
8. Vowel sounds and spelling rules.
- The correct spelling of vowels in writing is important for preserving the meaning of words:
olma (apple) and olmoq (to take/buy).
- Vowel harmony in suffixes: -lik suffix: go'zallik (beauty) (influenced by the vowel a), davlatlik
(statehood) (influenced by the vowel i).
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9. The importance of vowel sounds in speech culture.
- In poetry: Vocal harmony (repetition of vowels) lends musicality to the poem. For example,
"Gentle breeze over the flower, Wafting, wafting..." (Alisher Navoi).
- In speech: Long/short pronunciation of vowels affects meaning:
- Short: bor (seller) - long: boor (movement of going).
10. Foreign Language Influence
- In Russian words: Vowels are adapted to conform with Uzbek language rules. театр - teatr
(harmony of 'e' and 'a').
- In Arabic words: The article ـلْاَ(al-) begins with the vowel 'a': kitob (Arabic بٌااَكِ).
In the Uzbek language, vowel sounds not only form the basis of words but also serve to make
speech clear, beautiful, and comprehensible. In linguistics, the study of vowel sounds plays an
important role in understanding word structure, morphology, and phonetic laws. Therefore,
mastering vowel sounds is a crucial step in correctly and effectively learning the Uzbek language.
References:
1. Rahmatullayev Sh. Modern Uzbek Literary Language. - T.: 1978.
2. Buronov J. Grammar of the Uzbek Language. - T.: 2020.
3. Qo'ng'urov T. Phonetics of the Uzbek Language. - T.: 1995.
4. Johanson Lars. Turkic Languages. - Newcastle: 1998.
5. Spelling Rules of the Uzbek Language. - T.: 2021.
