What is the primary function of orthography?

The primary function of orthography is to represent sounds through symbols. Orthography involves the set of conventions for writing a language, including spelling, punctuation, and capitalization, which directly connects the phonetic elements of spoken language to the visual symbols used in writing. This correspondence between sounds (phonemes) and symbols (graphemes) allows individuals to decode and encode language, which is essential for reading and writing proficiency.

When we consider the other options, they do not accurately capture the core purpose of orthography. While enhancing spoken language or analyzing word meanings may be important in other aspects of language studies, they do not specifically define orthography's role. Similarly, comparing academic performance is unrelated to the function of orthography itself; it pertains more to assessment and evaluation within an educational context. Thus, the chosen answer encapsulates the fundamental characteristic of orthography in the context of literacy and language development.