42
Pronunciation and spelling of J and Dj
Textbook: pp. 82–83
GoalObserve the two kinds of sound written with the letter J (j and dj).
New words
chick · jo‘jamagazine · jurnalgiraffe · jirafaconscience · vijdon
Explanation
In Uzbek the letter j stands for two different sounds. In words like jo‘ja (chick), jajji (tiny), jahon (world) it stands for the front-of-tongue voiced sound dj, which is heard close to ch, because ch is its unvoiced pair. In words borrowed from other languages, such as jurnal (magazine), jirafa (giraffe), garaj (garage), the letter j stands for the sound j, the voiced pair of sh. In both cases a single letter j is written, never «dj»: jo‘ja, jurnal. That is why we practise pronouncing j-words correctly.
Worked examples
Jo‘ja, jajji, jahon — the sound dj, written with the letter j.
Jurnal, jirafa, garaj — the sound j; these are also written with one j.
Class activity
Draw a table: separate j-words in columns by whether they lean to ch or sh. Which column has more words?
Practice
1
Which sound is the sound in «jo‘ja» heard close to?
To ch (this is the sound dj).
2
The j in «jurnal» is the voiced pair of which sound?
Of sh.
3
Write three words of each kind of j.
E.g. jo‘ja, jajji, jahon; jurnal, jirafa, garaj.
4
Is dj written in text?
No, a single letter j is written.