A PHONOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION ERRORS MADE BY UZBEKSPEAKING C1 LEARNERS

Abstract

This study examines English pronunciation errors produced by Uzbek-speaking learners at the C1 proficiency level from a phonological perspective. A total of 22 pronunciation errors were identified and classified into several categories, including word stress errors, vowel length errors, vowel substitution, diphthong-related errors, weak syllable deletion, and mispronunciation of interdental consonants. The findings reveal that most errors stem from typological differences between the phonological systems of English and Uzbek, particularly in terms of stress patterns, vowel reduction, and rhythmic structure. Furthermore, some errors appear to be associated with the complexity of English lexical stress rules and insufficient targeted phonetic instruction. The study highlights the importance of explicit pronunciation training even at advanced levels of language proficiency.