Orthography
Orthography
Orthography (pronounced: /ɔːrˈθɒɡrəfi/) is the conventional spelling system of a language. It is derived from the Greek words orthos meaning "correct", and graphein meaning "to write".
Orthography is a branch of linguistics that deals with the rules for writing in a particular language, including punctuation, capitalization, word breaks, emphasis, and spelling. It is an essential aspect of written communication and plays a crucial role in the standardization and preservation of languages.
History
The concept of orthography dates back to the invention of writing systems. The earliest known orthographic systems were used in ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. Over time, orthographic systems have evolved and diversified, leading to the wide range of writing systems we see today.
Types of Orthography
There are several types of orthography, including:
- Phonemic orthography: This type of orthography closely represents the sounds of a language. Each phoneme (distinct unit of sound) in the language is represented by a unique grapheme (written symbol).
- Morphophonemic orthography: This type of orthography represents morphemes (the smallest meaningful units of language) rather than individual sounds. It is used in languages where morphemes can change their sound depending on the context.
- Logographic orthography: This type of orthography uses symbols to represent words or morphemes rather than sounds. Examples include Chinese characters and Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Importance of Orthography
Orthography is important for several reasons:
- Literacy: A standardized orthography is crucial for teaching and learning to read and write. It provides a consistent framework for representing the sounds and structures of a language in written form.
- Communication: Orthography allows for clear and effective written communication. It reduces ambiguity and aids in the understanding of written texts.
- Language preservation: Orthography plays a key role in the preservation and revitalization of languages. It allows languages to be documented and passed down through generations.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Orthography
- Wikipedia's article - Orthography
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski