Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fundamentals
103
9
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TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
103-105
DOI
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
23 March 2025
ACCEPTED
19 April 2025
PUBLISHED
21 May 2025
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue05 2025
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
The Role of Oral Folk Art in
Developing Speech in
Young Children (Examining
the Genres of Tongue
Twisters and Riddles)
Gafforjon Ruzmatovich Rahmanov
Associate Professor at Kokand University, PhD in Philological Sciences,
Uzbekistan
Abstract:
This article provides a methodological
approach to the importance of tongue twisters and
riddles
—
genres of oral folk art
—
in developing speech in
young children. It also offers methodological
recommendations to encourage active speaking,
stimulate logical thinking, and enhance creative abilities
in children.
Keywords:
Tongue twister, riddle, speech skills, logical
thinking, creative ability, communicative aspects,
traditional folklore, proper language use, cultural
heritage, national values.
Introduction:
A tongue twister is a short, challenging
phrase or poem designed to practice quick and accurate
pronunciation of sounds in oral speech. It is typically
based on the repetition of similar or identical sounds.
The Early Childhood Period
Early childhood is a critical phase of rapid development
in speech, cognitive, and social aspects. Games, poems,
tongue twisters, and riddles play a significant role in
shaping speech skills during this period. Tongue twisters
and riddles are effective tools for enriching children's
vocabulary, improving listening and pronunciation
abilities, strengthening memory, and enhancing logical
thinking.
Early childhood is the
most crucial stage in a child's development,
encompassing speech, cognitive, psychomotor, and
socio-emotional growth. Speech therapy, didactic
games, poetic texts, tongue twisters, and riddles from
folklore hold particular importance in forming speech
abilities during this period.
Tongue twisters and
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Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fundamentals
riddles not only develop children's speech skills but
also improve their logical thinking, creativity, and
communication abilities. These traditional folklore
samples teach children not only proper language use
but also cultural heritage and national values.
Tongue Twisters
A tongue twister is a short, challenging phrase or poem
intended to practice fast and accurate sound
pronunciation in oral speech. It is usually based on the
repetition of similar or identical sounds.
Objectives of Tongue Twisters:
1. Improving language use
–
Helps speak more clearly
and fluently.
2. Language exercises
–
Especially beneficial for
children and foreign language learners.
3. Skill enhancement
–
A tool for perfecting
pronunciation among radio and theater actors, as well
as announcers.
4. Entertainment
–
Speech development in a playful
form.
Tongue twisters are an excellent tool for improving
speech in both children and adults, enhancing
language proficiency.
How Tongue Twisters Help Develop Speech Skills in
Children:
- Quick and accurate pronunciation
–
Repeating
difficult words and sounds improves articulation.
- Enhancing auditory attention
–
Listening to and
repeating tongue twisters develops phonemic hearing.
- Strengthening memory and retention
–
Short,
rhyming texts make it easier for children to memorize.
Examples of Tongue Twisters in Uzbek:
- "Chumchuq churq etdi, chuv etdi" (The sparrow
chirped, flew away).
-
"Oq qopqoqqa koʻk qopqoq, koʻk qopqoqqa oq
qopqoq" (A white lid on a blue lid, a blue lid on a white
lid).
- "Chorvador chorva chorlab, chorvaxonaga kiribdi"
(The shepherd herded the cattle into the barn).
Riddles in Oral Folk Art
Among the genres of oral folk art, riddles hold a special
place. They test people's intellect, thinking, and
observational skills, playing a significant role in child
upbringing and cultural life since ancient times.
A riddle is a form of oral art where an object or
phenomenon is deliberately concealed through
symbols, comparisons, and metaphors, challenging the
listener to guess it. It is usually rhythmic and develops
imaginative thinking through metaphors, allegories,
and analogies.
Structure of Riddles:
1. Descriptive part
–
The object or phenomenon is
described indirectly through comparisons.
2. Solution or answer
–
The name of the object
matching the given description.
Riddles are products of folk wisdom, reflecting people's
observations of nature, life, tools, wildlife, and cosmic
phenomena. Thus, they can be considered expressions
of folk philosophy.
Functions of Riddles:
- Educational-philosophical
–
Develops children's
thinking and mental activity.
- Historical-cultural
–
Reflects the worldview, traditions,
and lifestyle of a people.
- Aesthetic
–
Shapes artistic taste through figurative
expression.
Example of a Riddle:
"It has no div but leaves a trace, it moves without
walking, it floats."
Answer: A boat.
This riddle depicts a boat, showcasing human
perception of natural phenomena and the desire to
express them figuratively.
How Riddles Develop Logical Thinking in Children:
- Conceptual and logical thinking
–
Solving riddles
teaches children to compare the characteristics of
objects.
- Vocabulary expansion
–
Understanding new terms and
metaphors enriches language.
- Creative thinking and imagination
–
Figurative
descriptions in riddles stimulate children's imagination.
Riddles are not just games but a part of a people's
spiritual and educational heritage. Behind them lie
wisdom, thought, artistry, and life experience. Even
today, teachers, educators, and folklorists widely use
riddles. Therefore, studying, promoting, and creating
new riddles remains a relevant task.
Examples of Riddles:
Nature and Wildlife:
1. "Long itself, no tongue, but produces much sound
from its mouth."
👉
Answer: Wind.
2. "In the forest, it goes 'woo-woo,' at night it howls."
👉
Answer: Wolf.
3. "It swims in the river, not a fish; a person rides it, not
a boat."
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Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fundamentals
👉
Answer: Canoe.
Household Items:
1. "Head black, inside white, the more you read, the
more you know."
👉
Answer: Book.
2. "Four legs, flat back, everyone sits on it."
👉
Answer: Chair.
Fruits and Food:
1. "Not in winter, but in summer, dressed in yellow,
sweet as sugar."
👉
Answer: Melon.
2. "Green outside, red inside, with black seeds within."
👉
Answer: Watermelon.
CONCLUSION
In summary, tongue twisters and riddles are engaging
and effective methods for developing speech,
cognitive, and social skills in young children. They
encourage active communication, enhance logical
thinking, and foster creativity. Parents and educators
can enrich children's speech by incorporating these
folklore genres into daily interactions.
Tongue twisters and riddles are unique tools for the
comprehensive development of children's speech,
cognitive, and social abilities. To use them effectively,
the following recommendations should be followed:
1. Regular practice
–
Dedicate 5-10 minutes daily to
tongue twisters and riddles.
2. Individual approach
–
Select materials appropriate
for the child's age and speech level.
3. Engagement
–
Motivate children through games
and interesting tasks.
Parents, educators, and speech therapists can combine
these traditional methods with modern educational
technologies to further enhance children's speech
development.
REFERENCES
Boltayeva, N. "Speech Development in Young
Children." Tashkent, 2001.
Boltayeva, N. "Early Childhood Pedagogy." Tashkent,
2003.
Kodirova, F. "Methods of Developing Children's
Speech." Tashkent, 2004.
Kodirova, F. "Speech Therapy for Children." Tashkent,
2005.
Kholmirzaeva, D. "Children's Folklore and Speech
Development." Tashkent, 2011.
Kholmirzaeva, D. "Uzbek Children's Folklore and Its
Pedagogical Significance." Tashkent, 2015.
