Comparativetypolog y

Comparative Analysis of the English and Uzbek Vowels Systems

As has been mentioned above the system of English vowel phonemes consists of monophtongs, diphtongized vowels and diphthongs. There are 21 vowel phonemes in English. They are:

There are 6 vowel phonemes in Uzbek. They are:
The main point of difference of similarity between the English monophtongs, diphthongizes vowel and Uzbek may be summed up as follows:

1. 
   The English and Uzbek vowel phonemes are characterised by the oral formation. There are no nasalized vowels in the languages compared.
   
2. 
   According to the part of the tongue in the formation of vowel phonemes there are no front-retracted, central proper (or mixed) vowels in Uzbek. Resemblance may be found in the pronunciation of the back vowels in English and Uzbek. The Uzbek [ ] and the English [ ] are back-advanced vowels. The Uzbek [ ] and the English [ ], also [ ] are back retracted vowels. Therefore, it is comparatively easy to teach the Uzbeks pronunciation of back English vowels.
   
3. 
   According to the height of the tongue in English there are vowels of all the 6 levels. Uzbek vowels belong to the narrow varieties of the 3 levels. In Uzbek there are no vowel phonemes like the English [ ],[ ], [ ]. These vowels are difficult for the student to master, especially the neutral vowel. But nevertheless the neutral [ ] can be compared with Uzbek unstressed in the words like кетди, келди, китоб etc.
   
4. 
   According to the position of the lips in the formation of vowels English vowels are rounded without protrusion. Uzbek vowels [ ], [ are more closely rounded and protruded, where as the English , are slightly rounded and [ ], [ ] are closely rounded without protrusion. All the front and central vowels in English and Uzbek are unrounded. In articulating the English vowels [ ] and the Uzbek vowels [ ], [ ], the lips are neutral. In articulating the English vowels [ ], [ ], [ ] and the Uzbek [ ] the lips may be either neutral or spread. In articulating the Uzbek [ ] the lips may be either neutral or spread.
   

In teaching the Uzbeks to pronounce the rounded English vowels care should be taken not to protrude the lips.

5. Besides considerable qualitative difference there is a quantitative difference between vowel phonemes of English and Uzbek. Traditionally all English vowels are divided into short and long. Short-[ ], long [ ].

But at present the quantitative features of the English vowel phonemes have become their main property and quantity must be regarded as additional. The Uzbek vowel phonemes may only be differentiated by their quality. Philologically there is no quantitative difference in the Uzbek vowel phonemes . They are typical “middle sounds”, neither long nor short. Sometimes the English vowels [ ], [ ] may sound like the Uzbek [ ]and [ ] when they are pronounced short. This acoustic resemblance makes it possible to compare the vowels in question.

6. The English vowels are usually neutralised and may be substituted by [ ] in unstressed position. The Uzbek vowels may be used either in stressed or unstressed position. Thus there is little difference between stressed and unstressed vowels in Uzbek. It is better to pronounce the correct pronunciation of the English [ ] without trying to find any parallels in the native tongue. (Compare the Uzbek [ ] in an unstressed position. e.g. келди, кетди, айтди)ю