32
Spelling of some vowels. Pronunciation and spelling of A and O
Textbook: pp. 61–62
GoalKnow where the pronunciation of A and O differs from the spelling, and write correctly.
New words
pronunciation · talaffuzspelling · imloworld · jahontomato · pomidor
Explanation
In some words the vowels a and o are said a little differently from how they are written, but in writing their own letter is kept. For example, in words like jahon (world) and bahor (spring) the sound a is heard closer to o, but a is written. In words that came through Russian, such as pomidor (tomato), kostyum (suit), Moskva (Moscow), an unstressed o is often said like a, yet o is written. In the last syllable of doktor, traktor, motor the o leans towards i in speech, but in writing it is o. The spelling of such words must be remembered and, when in doubt, checked in a spelling dictionary.
Worked examples
Jahon, bahor — pronounced close to o, written with a.
Pomidor, kostyum — pronounced close to a, but written with o.
Class activity
“Spelling detective”: the teacher pronounces words and you choose to write a or o. Then check with a spelling dictionary.
Practice
1
How is the vowel of the first syllable of «jahon» pronounced and written?
Pronounced close to o, written a.
2
How does the first o of «pomidor» sound? How is it written?
It sounds close to a, written o.
3
Fill in a or o: b...hor, p...midor, dokt...r.
Bahor, pomidor, doktor.
4
Why should such words be checked in a dictionary?
Because pronunciation does not match writing; only memory or a dictionary helps.