The term used for understanding the spelling patterns of a language is known as what?

The term that refers to understanding the spelling patterns of a language is orthography. This encompasses the conventions for writing a language, including spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Orthography deals with the rules and norms that govern how words are correctly formed and presented in written form, making it essential for literacy and effective communication.

Phonology refers to the study of the sounds in a language and how they interact. While phonological awareness is important for reading and spelling, it is not specifically about the spelling patterns themselves. Linguistics is the broader scientific study of language, which includes various subfields such as phonetics, syntax, semantics, and orthography, but it does not narrow down specifically to spelling patterns. Orthoanalysis is not widely recognized in the field of language studies and does not relate directly to the understanding of spelling patterns. Therefore, orthography is the most accurate term for the understanding of spelling within a language.