ORTHOEPY

ORTHOEPY [From Greek orthoépeia right speech, correct diction]. A term used mainly in the 17–18c for the part of GRAMMAR that deals with ‘correct’ PRONUNCIATION and its relation to ‘correct’ writing (ORTHOGRAPHY). The principles of orthoepy influenced a number of pronouncing (orthoepic) dictionaries of the time, such as William Kenrick's A new Dictionary of the English Language: containing not only the explanation of words … but likewise their orthoepia or pronunciation in speech (1773). Orthoepy, although primarily associated with ELOCUTION, is ancestral to PHONETICS and its application to language teaching, as in Daniel JONES's English Pronouncing Dictionary (1917).

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

TOM McARTHUR. "ORTHOEPY." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

TOM McARTHUR. "ORTHOEPY." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-ORTHOEPY.html

TOM McARTHUR. "ORTHOEPY." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-ORTHOEPY.html

Learn more about citation styles

Find thousands of answers for hundreds of subjects at Answers Encyclopedia .

All answers verified by trusted sources at Encyclopedia.com

Try Answers Encyclopedia now!

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: