☰ Contents · Uzbek language

Pronunciation and spelling. Changing vowels

Lessons 1–2 · 2 lessons · B. Mengliyev, Sh. Toshmirzayeva, S. Atoyeva, S. Majidova. Ona tili (Uzbek language), Grade 11, Part 2. “O‘qituvchi” publishing and printing creative house, Tashkent, 2020
2

Vowels that change in speech

Textbook: Part 2, pp. 7–9
GoalSort vowels that change in speech into those shown and not shown in writing, and pronounce vowel letters according to the norm.
New words
vowel · unli tovushdropping of a vowel · unlining tushishinorm · me’yorpronunciation dictionary · talaffuz lug‘ati
Explanation

Vowels change in fast speech and in unstressed syllables: kompyuter (computer) is often said “kampyuter” and televizor (television set) “tilivizor”. Such changes are not shown in writing; the word is written in its dictionary form. In some Uzbek words a suffix makes the vowel of the second syllable drop, and this is also visible in writing: shahar – shahri (city), burun – burni (nose), qorin – qorni (belly). On the other hand, changing a vowel is wrong in some words: saying ravshan (clear) as “rovshan” and writing it that way both break the norm. The letters ye are kept in words like poyezd (train), obyekt (object) and cannot be replaced by ya or e. In doubtful cases one relies on spelling and pronunciation dictionaries.

Worked examples
Televizor [tilivizor]: the vowel changes in speech, but e stays in writing.
Shahar + -i = shahri: the a of the second syllable drops and this shows in writing; “shahari” is a mistake.
Class activity

“Is it visible in writing?”: the teacher says a word and its changed pronunciation; students raise a hand if the change shows in spelling and stay seated if it does not.

Practice
1
Is a vowel change always shown in writing?
2
Add -i to shahar, burun, qorin and write the forms.
3
Which is spelled correctly: poezd or poyezd; obekt or obyekt?
4
Why do we write kompyuter, not “kampyuter”, in writing?