Comparative and typological features of consonant system in Turkic languages

The article examines the consonant system of Turkic languages, which undergoes modifications in accordance with the articulatory features of the language. Identification of such changes as adjacent phoneme interaction, sound harmony, phoneme transformation, sound merging, their combinatorial variation depending on a speech rate, vowel assimilation between two consonants, sound voicing, etc., is the primary task of phonology. A comparative study of similar phonological patterns in related Turkic languages is currently a pressing task. The comparative-historical method of studying Turkic languages, which traces its origin back to Mahmud Kashgari’s work “Diwan Lughat-at-Turk”, has contributed significantly to determining the phonological structure of dialects within this language family. The comparative-historical study of languages is a research method based on the comparison of various historical and diachronic phenomena or processes to identify similarities, differences, and patterns observed over a certain period. This method allows for deeper understanding of the characteristics of individual languages included in a given language group, general trends in the development of related languages, and the acoustic-articulatory nature of consonants in general. The primary purpose of the article is to identify the phonetic and structural features of the consonant systems of related Turkic languages (Kazakh, Bashkir, Uyghur, Karakalpak, Khakass, Shor, Chuvash, among others) through a comparative and typological lens. To achieve this goal, the study focuses on analyzing consonantal structure of these languages, the emergence of new phonemes, and the patterns by which they are integrated into phonological system of the language in the language sound system. The article applies a descriptive approach, drawing on existing research materials and data related to Turkic languages. It examines the distribution and behavior of consonant sounds in various word positions (anlaut, inlaut, and auslaut), highlighting both commonalities and differences. The analysis examines phoneme composition, sound harmony, articulatory features, and consonant transformations from both phonetic and phonological perspectives. Identifying shared and language-specific traits highlights the study’s significance. Consonant variability shapes language norms, affects acquisition and competence, and informs the development of language processing technologies. The investigation of consonantal variation based on linguistic data has important implications for both theoretical and applied linguistics.