2
Vowel sounds
Textbook: p. 5
GoalCount the vowel sounds, know how they are classified and spell vowels correctly.
New words
vowel sound · unli tovushrounded vowel · lablangan unliunrounded vowel · lablanmagan unlisyllable · bo‘g‘in
Explanation
When we say a vowel, the air meets no blockage in the mouth; vowels are made of voice alone. Uzbek has 6 vowel sounds: a, o, u, e, i, o‘. By the work of the lips they fall into two groups: rounded vowels (o, o‘, u) and unrounded vowels (a, e, i). Every syllable contains exactly one vowel, so a word has as many syllables as vowels. Changing a vowel changes the meaning: tosh (stone), tush (dream), tish (tooth).
Worked examples
daftar (notebook): a, a — 2 vowels, 2 syllables (daf-tar).
tosh — tush — tish: only the vowel changed, and so did the meaning.
Class activity
“Find the vowels!”: the teacher says a word; pupils show the number of vowels on their fingers and clap the syllables.
Practice
1
How many vowel sounds does Uzbek have? Name them.
6: a, o, u, e, i, o‘.
2
How many vowels and syllables are in maktab (school)?
2 vowels (a, a) and 2 syllables: mak-tab.
3
Pick the rounded vowels: a, o, e, u, i, o‘.
o, u, o‘.
4
Why are tosh and tish different words? Explain.
They have different vowels (o and i); when the vowel changes, the meaning changes.