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Vowel Alternations

  • /i/ ~ /u:/

This is a very typical characteristic of the Tashkent dialect, the q-g’-v process and under the influence of this i becomes u.

Literary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
qatiqqatu:(v)yogurt
keldikkeldu:(v)We came.
beshikbeshu:(v)cradle

/i/ ~ /u:/ alternation is widely used in suffixes:

Literary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
qo’shnimizqo’shnu:vuzour neighbor
ko’ruvdikko’ru:vduvwe have seen
olaylikoliylu:vlet’s take
  • /u/ ~ /o'/

This phenomenon results in homonyms and can be a reason for misunderstanding which only becomes clear through context.

Literary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
uyo'yhome, house
uylanyapmano'ylanvommanI am getting married.
  • /e/ ~ /i/
Literary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
ehtiyotkorihtiyotkorcareful

It is constant with the verb de- to say. See: Verbs

The verb edi-was:

PositionLiterary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
After words in consonantsodam ediodamidiwas good person
After words ending in vowelsyaxshi ediyaxshiydihe/she/it was fine
  • /e/ ~ /a/
Literary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
chevarachavaragrand grandchild
nevaranavaragrandchild
  • /a/ ~ /i/

This phenomenon occurs commonly in the Tashkent dialect.

Literary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
qilmaydiqimiydidoes/will not do
ko’rayko’riylet me see
yozmaydiyozmiydidoes/will not write
yig’laydiyig’liydidoes/will cry
qilmaymizqimiymizawe do/will not do
  • /a/ ~ /o/
Literary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
akaokabrother
vahimavohmafright
da'vogardovogarplaintiff
javobjovopanswer
jahonjohonworld
mashinamoshinacar
  • /a/ ~ /e/
Literary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
aytdimettimI said
aytingetinyou say
aytdiettihe/she said
  • /a/ ~ /o'/
Literary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
savdogarso'vdagartrader
gavjumgo'vjumcrowded
savdoso'vdacommerce
kavushko'vushleather overshoe
davrdo'vurperiod
  • /o/ ~ /o'/
Literary languageTashkent dialectEnglish
koptokkopto':(v)ball
xomtokxomto':(v)pruning (of grapevines)
anqovanqo’:(v)dolt
arzon-garovarzon-garo’:(v)very cheap
birrovbirro’:(v)for a second
beo’xshovbeo’xsho’:(v)improper
garovgaro’:(v)bet
darrovdarro’:(v)right away
dovyurakdo':(v)yureyfearless
kosovkoso’:(v)(fire) poker
kuyovkuyo’:(v)son-in-law
merovmero’:(v)dense
mo’ylovmo’ylo’:(v)mustache
naynovnayno’:(v)lanky
olovolo’:(v)fire
palovpalo’:(v)pilaf
saylovsaylo’:(v)election
siylovsiylo’:(v)reward
cherkovcherko’:(v)church
egovego’:(v)file(tool)
yayovyayo’:(v)by foot
yakkamoxovyakkamoxo’:(v)loner
qirovqiro’:(v)frost