PHONOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OF ETHNIC TOPONYMS IN UZBEK AND ENGLISH LANGUAGES

Abstract

This article investigates the phonological adaptation of ethnic toponyms in Uzbek and English languages from comparative and ethnolinguistic perspectives. The study examines how geographical names connected with ethnic identity undergo phonetic transformation under the influence of language contact, migration, historical change, and sociocultural interaction. Particular attention is devoted to sound substitution, vowel modification, consonant simplification, stress adaptation, and orthographic transformation in ethnic place names. The research also analyzes the role of phonological adaptation in preserving cultural memory and ethnic identity despite linguistic evolution. The findings demonstrate that Uzbek and English ethnic toponyms preserve historical and cultural information while adapting to the phonetic systems of dominant languages. The article highlights the importance of phonological analysis in understanding the interaction between language, ethnicity, and historical development in toponymic studies.