Ghozi Olim Yunusov's Classification Of Uzbek Dialects And Principles Of Classification

Abstract

This article analyzes the classification of Uzbek dialects proposed by Ghozi Olim Yunusov, focusing on the underlying principles and criteria guiding his approach. It offers a critical evaluation of Yunusov’s objections to earlier classifications, particularly those by E.D. Polivanov and A.N. Samoylovich, and assesses the validity of his arguments regarding dialectal features such as synharmonism, lip harmony, and diphthongs. The study also scrutinizes Yunusov’s methodological standpoint and theoretical assertions about the historical origins of Uzbek dialects and the development of the literary Uzbek language. Although influenced by the ideological climate of the 1930s, Yunusov's contributions remain significant in the discourse of Uzbek dialectology. However, his assertions often lacked empirical grounding and sometimes contradicted established linguistic evidence. The article concludes that while Ghozi Olim’s dialect classification introduced influential concepts, it also reflects the ideological pressures and academic limitations of its time.