Orthographers

Orthography is the conventional spelling system of a language, encompassing rules for letters, diacritics, punctuation, and capitalization. An orthographer is a person who studies, designs, or codifies such systems. The term is often used for linguists or language planners involved in spelling conventions, orthographic reform, or the creation of writing systems for languages that lack standardized scripts. In analyzing phonology to orthography, an orthographer seeks consistent, usable representations of speech in written form.

Orthographers may work in language policy, education, lexicography, or computational linguistics. Their tasks include proposing and documenting orthographic rules, producing dictionaries and teaching materials, and guiding literacy initiatives. In communities with multiple languages or with endangered languages, orthographers collaborate with speakers to develop practical writing systems, choosing diacritics, digraphs, and conventions for punctuation and capitalization. The work often intersects with sociolinguistics because orthography can influence literacy, identity, and language maintenance.

Although the term exists, orthographer as a professional title is not common, and examples are often described by more specific roles such as spelling reformer or orthography designer. The concept is distinct from calligraphy, typography, or transliteration, though all concern representation of language in written form. Etymology: orthography derives from Greek orthos 'correct' and graphia 'writing'.