What Is Orthography.The word Orthography derived from the Greek which means “true” and to write. Orthography is a system of spelling a language or a description of the sounds of language in the form of writing or emblem. We can say it is a description of the sounds of language in the form of writing or emblem. It is the part of grammar that studies the correct use when writing letters, accents, capitalization and auxiliary signs of writing.It is the set of symbols and set or rules that describe how to write spelling, pronunciation, stress, and capitalization. It is very different from typography.
You Must Know The concept Of Orthography,If you Are A Language Student.What Is Orthography.
Example:
English language has a 26 letter (consonants and vowels).However, every English letter may represent more than one sign, and many English sounds (phonemes) may be written by more than one letter. Here orthographic rules that describe how to use the letter i before e except after.Orthography does not represent all the sounds of the language, such as Italian, English or Arabic.
Functions of Orthography
It consists of five main sections:
1) Transfer of letters phonemic composition of words.
2) Together, separate writing words and their parts.
3) The use of uppercase and lowercase letters.
4) Transferring the words from one line to another;
5) Graphics reductions words.
Orthography And Spelling Relationship you Must Know
- The word spelling defines how to write the words in the lexicon regardless of their use in the sentence or text. Each word has a spelling which is presented under the rules of orthography. The oral stage of language always preceding the writing stage, the use of spelling is supposed to represent linguistic signs in the pronunciation of words, according to a letter.
Spelling Origin
During the reign of Alfonso X (1252-1284) Castilian became the official language of Castile and he himself made the first attempt to give this language a systematic graphic code , by participating as a corrector of his own works, which he also wrote with his group of collaborators (called the School of Translators).
In 1517 Antonio de Nebrija’s work entitled Spelling Rules appeared , with which he intends to correct the language, so that it does not undergo a process similar to that of Latin which caused its disappearance.
Nebrija (writer of Castilian Grammar and Latin-Spanish Dictionary) establishes 26 signs to represent the 26 sounds found in Spanish . However, during the 16th and 17th centuries, different works by authors who attempted to establish Castilian orthography were printed, such as Gonzalo de Correas, New and Perfect Spelling of Kastellan, where the author establishes a 25-letter alphabet based on phonetic criteria; remove some spellings like z, qu, y, j; distinguish r from rr and write some popular words, for example: korupto for corrupt.
Such a practice was criticized by those who felt that barbaric words should be shortened and spelling should be based on reason or etymology and usage, as well as being a reference for pronunciation.
It was in 1713 when the Royal Spanish Academy was born and a criterion based on the principle of authority or normative criterion was added to the language. The Royal Academy of Spain publishes the Dictionary of Authorities, in 1741 the Spelling and in 1771 the Spanish Grammar.
The Royal Spanish Academy began with a very rigid etymological criterion that has been softened over time, carrying out successive reforms, until it ends up being the institution that establishes the orthographic regulations of Spain and America.
Orthography in linguistics refers to the set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, word breaks, and punctuation. To understand it better, let’s look at a tabular guide that outlines the key components of orthography:
| Component | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Spelling | The way in which words are spelled. It includes rules about letters and their combinations. | “Colour” in British English vs “Color” in American English. |
| Hyphenation | The rules for breaking words between lines and the use of hyphens in compound words. | “Mother-in-law” (compound word with hyphens). |
| Capitalization | The guidelines for using uppercase letters. | Capitalizing the first letter of a sentence or proper nouns like “New York”. |
| Word Breaks | Rules for where words can be split at the end of a line and how they are separated. | Breaking “inconvenient” as “incon-venient”. |
| Punctuation | The use of symbols like commas, periods, question marks to structure and organize writing. | Using a period at the end of a sentence. |
Orthography varies from language to language and can even have variations within the same language (e.g., American vs British English). It plays a crucial role in how effectively and accurately written communication is conveyed.
Conclusion
Orthography is far more than a set of rules for writing and spelling. It is a fundamental aspect of linguistics that influences language acquisition, standardization, and preservation. By providing a standardized framework to represent spoken language, orthography facilitates effective communication, fosters language learning, and preserves cultural heritage. Its importance in linguistic analysis cannot be understated, as it allows for the exploration of language patterns, evolution, and deeper insight into the structure of languages. Ultimately, orthography is the backbone of written communication and an essential component of language study.
