COMPARATIVE PHONETICS OF UZBEK AND OTHER TURKIC LANGUAGES

Аннотация

This article examines the comparative phonetics of the Uzbek language in relation to other Turkic languages, including Turkish, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz. By analyzing phonemic inventories, phonotactic constraints, vowel harmony systems, and prosodic features, the study highlights both the shared phonological heritage and the unique phonetic evolutions within the Turkic language family. The research employs a typological and descriptive linguistic methodology, drawing on acoustic analysis, historical phonology, and field data. Results reveal that while Uzbek preserves many Proto-Turkic phonetic elements, it also displays distinct innovations such as the weakening of vowel harmony and the influence of Persian and Russian phonological systems. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of phonetic convergence and divergence in genetically related languages. Keywords. Uzbek phonetics, Turkic languages, vowel harmony, comparative linguistics, phonemic inventory, phonological typology, phonotactics, prosody, sound change, language contact.