Publication Details
Abstract
The article examines the theoretical foundations of phonetic sound changes in Uzbek, with particular attention to reduction and its relation to procope, syncope, apocope, elision, syneresis, and consonant deletion. The analysis focuses on unstressed position, articulatory convenience, speech economy, and simplification as factors underlying sound changes. Uzbek sound changes are considered from combinatory and positional perspectives, with attention to their orthoepic and, in limited cases, orthoepic-orthographic characteristics. The study argues that reduction may function as an initial stage of weakening in spoken language, while complete deletion may represent a subsequent stage. The article also emphasizes the need to distinguish phonetic, orthoepic, and morphophonological dimensions of sound alternations.