Ortografie

Ortografie is the conventional spelling system of a language, governing how words are written, including punctuation, capitalization, diacritics, and hyphenation. It is codified in official rules and reference works, and it interacts with vocabulary, phonology, and grammar.

In languages with standardized orthography, rules are maintained by linguistic authorities and updated periodically to reflect changes in usage, technology, and education. In Dutch-speaking areas, orthography is coordinated by the Dutch Language Union (Taalunie), with official spelling lists published as the Groene Boekje. Changes are debated publicly and implemented in education, media, and publishing.

Orthography balances phonemic representation with historical spelling and loanwords; many languages exhibit irregular spellings that reflect etymology. Diacritics, capitalization, and punctuation rules shape readability and meaning. Hyphenation rules govern word breaks and compounds.

Orthographic reforms have occurred across languages, sometimes simplifying spellings, sometimes standardizing punctuation. In the digital era, orthography is tested by search, text input, and auto-correction, prompting ongoing refinements and tools such as dictionaries and style guides.