õigekirjutust

õigekirjutust is the study of Estonian orthography, which is the set of conventions used for writing the Estonian language. It is a crucial aspect of Estonian linguistics and is governed by the Estonian Language Act and the Estonian Orthography Committee.

The Estonian alphabet consists of 26 letters, with no distinction between uppercase and lowercase letters in handwriting. The orthography is phonemic, meaning each letter or combination of letters represents one sound, and vice versa. This principle is known as the "one letter, one sound" rule.

Estonian orthography has undergone several reforms over the years, with the most significant one being the 1992 reform. This reform aimed to simplify the writing system and make it more phonetic. For example, the letter "õ" was introduced to represent the sound /ɤ/, which did not have a distinct letter before the reform.

The orthography committee is responsible for proposing changes to the orthography and ensuring its consistency. It is composed of representatives from various fields, including linguistics, education, and the media.

Proper use of õigekirjutust is essential for effective communication in Estonian. It helps to standardize the language, facilitate learning, and ensure the correct pronunciation of words. Despite the reforms, some inconsistencies and exceptions still exist in the orthography, reflecting the dynamic nature of the language.