PHONETIC INTERFERENCE IN UZBEK LEARNERS’ PRODUCTION OF ENGLISH SOUNDS

This study investigates phonetic interference observed in the production of English sounds by Uzbek learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). The research examines how the phonological structure of the Uzbek language influences learners’ articulation of English segmental and suprasegmental features. Using a contrastive and acoustic-phonetic approach, speech samples from university students were analyzed to identify systematic pronunciation deviations. The findings reveal that differences in consonant inventory, vowel reduction, syllable structure, and stress patterns lead to predictable interference errors. The study highlights the pedagogical importance of incorporating contrastive phonetic training and instrumental analysis into pronunciation instruction in Uzbek EFL contexts.