If you have some memories of school, if you are preparing your children for it, or in any other circumstance in which this idea has flown over your mind, you are probably interested in knowing what spelling is , how we can define it, and several other related questions. with this task.
In effect, spelling, what haunts us during our formative stages, is nothing more than a set of rules and conventions that govern the writing of a language, in this case Spanish and that, therefore, are contemplated within normative grammar.
The origin of the spelling is given by Latin, from the word “orthographĭa”, which in turn derives from the Greek “ὀρθογραφία”, which we could translate as “correct writing”.
In this way, in short, it is possible to affirm that spelling represents a series of rules and agreements that make up the proper or correct way of writing, in an attempt to avoid “misspellings” and respect the rules imposed by the language. over time.
At this point, we can affirm that the reason for the spelling is to try to preserve what is called “linguistic unity” in the language, a practice that is not at all simple, especially in cases such as Spanish, which is spoken in so many different sites.
As part of its process of homogenization of the principles that govern linguistic codes, the expressions of those who adopt this language – or any other – as a second language are also included, thus avoiding a diversification of language.
In the case of our language, this task corresponds to the Royal Spanish Academy of the Language, based in Spain, although there are complementary institutions in other parts where Spanish has also been adopted: in the United States, Asia or Africa.
With the union of all of them, the Association of the Academies of the Spanish Language arises, author of the different versions of the Spelling of the Spanish Language , a series of statements about writing in our language, which is in line with these policies of linguistic unity.
Then there are specialized branches of spelling, such as those that ensure the timely use of orthographic signs that are not letters but symbols , such as commas, periods, exclamation and question marks, quotation marks, and many others that they enrich our language, in days where virtual writing continues to gain ground.
