33
Pronunciation and spelling of I and U
Textbook: pp. 63–64
GoalKnow the difference between pronunciation and spelling of I and U.
New words
short pronunciation · qisqa talaffuzsecond syllable · ikkinchi bo‘g‘incold · sovuqsoap · sovun
Explanation
The vowels i and u are also sometimes heard differently from how they are written. In words like qishloq (village), chiroq (lamp), qirq (forty), tirnoq (nail) the i is said very briefly, almost unheard, but in writing the letter i must be put. In the second syllable of tovush (sound), sovuq (cold), sovun (soap) the u sounds like i in everyday speech, yet it is written with u. So we write a word not as we hear it, but as the literary norm sets it.
Worked examples
Tovush, sovuq, sovun — u is written in the second syllable.
Qishloq, chiroq, tirnoq — i is written even though it is short.
Class activity
On cards write words like «sovuq», «tovush», «sovun» in two ways (with u and with i); circle the correct one.
Practice
1
How is the vowel of the second syllable of «sovun» written?
With the letter u.
2
How is the i in «chiroq» pronounced and written?
Pronounced briefly, written i.
3
Choose the correct spelling: tovush or tovish?
Tovush.
4
Why do we not write «sovuq» as «soviq»?
Because although u sounds like i in speech, by the literary norm this word is written with u.