Ortografista

Ortografista is a term used primarily in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking contexts to refer to a person who studies and applies orthography—the conventional spelling system of a language. An ortografista may be a linguist, editor, teacher, or consultant whose work centers on determining, interpreting, and enforcing correct spellings.

Core activities include researching spelling rules and patterns, comparing historical and contemporary spellings, drafting orthographic standards, and compiling or maintaining dictionaries and style guides. They may advise publishers, schools, and government bodies on spelling conventions, participate in committees on orthography reform, and perform proofreading and copy-editing with emphasis on correct spelling and diacritic usage.

Terminology and practice vary by language. In English, the term orthographer or spelling expert is more common; in Spanish or Portuguese, ortografista may be used to describe someone with formal or informal expertise in orthography. The role can be descriptive (documenting how spelling is used) or prescriptive (advocating rules), and may involve tensions between traditional spellings and proposed reforms.

Relation to related fields includes lexicography, linguistics, education, publishing, and language policy. The position is often associated with language academies, editorial desks, or governmental language authorities, reflecting its function in maintaining or guiding the orthographic conventions of a language.

See also: orthography, spelling reform, copy editor, lexicographer, language academy.