The Development of the English Language in Uzbekistan
Since the Soviet era, English was an important language to learn for Uzbeks, not only for its purpose in maintaining competition with the United States, but also the various lexical innovations that English provided to the world. When the Iron Curtain disintegrated in the late twentieth century, English quickly arrived at the forefront of Uzbek language education, relinquishing its role as a political tool and becoming the premier language for westernization and opportunity.
As Uzbek English is a relatively new variety of the language, the scope of knowledge regarding its characteristics is limited, although there is quite a bit of academic insight into new methods of phonology, morphology, semantics, and lexicography.
To understand the linguistic process through which Uzbek English is created, one must have an understanding of Russian English, which shares many of the predominant phonological, morphological, and lexical aspects of Uzbek English (Hasanova, 2007). The development of Uzbek English largely coincided with the process of Russification that occurred throughout the USSR during the twentieth century. As the Russian language began to borrow and modify English words, Uzbek followed along in this process, and as Uzbekistan gained independence and Russian lost influence in the country, the development of Uzbek English quickly progressed.
As Uzbek English is a relatively new variety of the language, the scope of knowledge regarding its characteristics is limited, although there is quite a bit of academic insight into new methods of phonology, morphology, semantics, and lexicography.
To understand the linguistic process through which Uzbek English is created, one must have an understanding of Russian English, which shares many of the predominant phonological, morphological, and lexical aspects of Uzbek English (Hasanova, 2007). The development of Uzbek English largely coincided with the process of Russification that occurred throughout the USSR during the twentieth century. As the Russian language began to borrow and modify English words, Uzbek followed along in this process, and as Uzbekistan gained independence and Russian lost influence in the country, the development of Uzbek English quickly progressed.
The Phonology of Uzbek EnglishThere are numerous examples of phonological assimilation that have occurred within Uzbek English, many of which are derived from Russian English.
Some significant examples of this phenomenon include; [w] - [v] shift: (Whisky is Visky) [θ] - [t] shift: (Thriller is Triller) [y] - [j] shift: (Union is Joonjun) (Hasanova, 2007) |
The Morphology of Uzbek EnglishThe development of Uzbek English on the morphological level is most apparent through the modification of English loanwords to fit the format of Uzbek morphology.
A significant example of this trend is the variation derivational suffixes between the two languages. As words such as "computer," "bank," and "printer," were integrated into Uzbek as English cognates through Russian, their equivalents in Uzbek utilize the Uzbek plural suffix "-lar." This amounts to "computers" being Компьютерlar [kompjuter-lar], "banks" being Банкlar [bank-lar], and "printers" being Принтерlar [printer-lar]. |
The Semantics of Uzbek English |
The Lexicon of Uzbek English |
As identified by Irina Ustinova (2005), words in Uzbek English "undergo semantic modification in Russian" and retain this semantic variation within Uzbek and Uzbek English (p. 249).
Within the process of developing Russian English semantics, there exists the factor of "semantic concretization" which occurs when a formerly unfamiliar word is defined with a narrower meaning than its original definition (Styblo, 2007, p. 4). An example includes the Russian word конференция (equivalent to "conferences") meaning "a place for speeches" (Styblo, 2007, p. 4). Uzbek English semantics may signal a shift in the scope of the definition of a word as well. A notable example includes Дилер, which translates to "dealer" in English, yet signifies "any person who buys or sells goods," rather than the typical English definition of a "financial agent" (Ustinova, 2005, p. 249). |
Most of the lexicon of Uzbek English is generated through print media, which introduces many non-native English words to the Uzbek people.
Popular newspapers such as Darakchi have introduced numerous English words into Uzbekistan, having to do with
As with the other linguistic features of Uzbek English, lexicon is largely generated through Russian English, as the presence of Russian in Uzbekistan continues to influence the language. It is important to note that many of the words borrowed from English are words that are relatively new to English itself, such as terms for new scientific ideas of technology, and these terms are generally incorporated into Russian English before they reach Uzbekistan. Sources of Uzbek media that portray English influence include BBC O'zbek and Darakchi. |
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