Ortograafia stilistilise vahendina eesti nüüdisluules

Orthography as a stylistic device in modern Estonian poetry This article examines instances of nonstandard orthography in poetry books published in Estonia between 2000 and 2023. The aim is to identify the types of orthographic deviation that appear in contemporary Estonian poetry and the stylistic functions that they serve. The theoretical section provides an overview of the concept of stylistic deviation, international research on orthographic deviation, and earlier studies on this topic in Estonia. The analysis proposes five functions of orthographic deviation: marking belonging, constructing authorial style, referencing linguistic varieties, guiding the reading process, and language play. These functional categories are then examined in more detail using examples found in the material. In conclusion, the range of orthographic deviations in Estonian poetry is remarkably broad, with all five functions present in the works of multiple authors. The most common type of deviation used to mark belonging to a cultural group or tradition is systematic letter substitution – particularly the frequent replacement of ü with y, along with other substitutions involving foreign letters (e.g., ks with x, ku with q). In constructing an authorial style, systematic substitutions are likewise used alongside other distinctive deviations such as selected spoken-language traits. References to linguistic varieties include nonstandard representation of oral pronunciation, representation of idiolects, historical or cultural connotations, reference to other languages, and highlighting the writing process, all of which are well attested in the material. The function of guiding the reading process involves strategies that slow down the reader or shift their focus in unconventional ways, typically through letter repetition or substitution. The fifth function, language play, is manifested primarily in the orthographic linking of words that would not normally be connected. An important observation is the strikingly metalinguistic nature of some of the deviations discussed. Some authors seem to employ nonstandard spelling specifically to highlight discrepancies between Estonian orthography and spoken language, or to evoke alternative orthographic systems rooted in historical language development. This goes to show that literature not only uses the tools of language but also enters into continuous dialogue with them.