PERSIAN BORROWED AFFIXES AND THEIR ROLE IN THE UZBEK LANGUAGE: A LINGUISTIC INVESTIGATION

Abstract

The Uzbek language, a member of the Turkic family, has undergone extensive lexical and morphological enrichment through historical contact with Persian (including Tajik-Persian varieties). This study examines Persian-derived affixes—primarily derivational suffixes and a smaller set of prefixes—that have integrated into Uzbek word-formation processes. Drawing on etymological, morphological, and corpus-based analysis, the research identifies key borrowed affixes, classifies them by function (derivational vs. relational), and evaluates their productivity in contemporary Uzbek. Results demonstrate that Persian affixes such as “-bon”, “-gar”, “-boz”, “-mand”, “-xona”, “-iy(ya)t”, “be-“, and “ser-“ actively contribute to noun, adjective, and abstract noun formation, often hybridizing with native Turkic stems. These elements not only expand the lexicon but also reflect deep cultural-linguistic integration shaped by centuries of Persian influence in Central Asia. The findings underscore the role of language contact in morphological evolution and highlight implications for Uzbek lexicography, language policy, and comparative Turkic-Iranian linguistics.