ortoepie

Ortoepie is the study or practice of correct pronunciation in a language. It covers how words are spoken, including phonetics, phonology, intonation, stress, and rhythm. In many linguistic traditions, ortoepie aims to describe the standard or prestige pronunciation of a language variety, while also acknowledging regional accents and sociolectal differences.

The field is distinct from orthography, which concerns spelling. Ortoepie provides guidance for spoken language and is often documented in pronunciation dictionaries, teaching materials, and phonemic transcriptions using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Researchers may adopt descriptive approaches, recording how speakers actually pronounce words, or prescriptive approaches, prescribing a preferred standard. Practices vary by language and educational context.

In Dutch-language contexts, the term ortoepie (and the related spelling orthoëpie) is commonly used to refer to the study or codified norms of pronunciation. In English, the equivalent term is orthoepy. The topic intersects with phonology, sociolinguistics, and language pedagogy, informing speech therapy, accent coaching, and foreign-language instruction. Pronunciation norms can change over time due to sound shifts, contact with other languages, and demographic changes.

See also: phonetics, phonology, orthography, pronunciation dictionary, dialectology.