De La Normă La Uz: Noul Îndreptar Ortografic, Ortoepic, Morfologic Și De Punctuație Și Reconfigurarea Discursului Normativ În Limba Română Contemporană

This article examines the sixth edition of the Orthographic, Orthoepic, Morphological and Punctuation Guide (2024) in relation to the broader tradition of Romanian normative linguistics. Rather than treating the volume as a mere update of earlier editions, the study investigates its role in the reconfiguration of normative discourse and in the changing relationship between linguistic norm and actual language use. The analysis adopts a qualitative-comparative approach, considering the Guide in relation to previous editions of the Orthographic, Orthoepic and Punctuation Guide and to the successive editions of the Orthographic, Orthoepic and Morphological Dictionary of Romanian (DOOM). The article focuses on the main areas addressed by the new edition: orthography, orthoepy, morphology and punctuation. Particular attention is given to the inclusion of a morphological component, the harmonization with DOOM³, the treatment of recent lexical borrowings, the selection of examples relevant to current usage difficulties and the increased emphasis on pedagogical accessibility. The study also discusses the balance between continuity and innovation by examining what the new Guide preserves, modifies, simplifies or leaves outside its scope. The findings suggest that the importance of the new Guide lies less in radical normative reform than in a shift in the way linguistic norms are selected, explained and transmitted. While preserving the core principles of Romanian standard language codification, the volume adopts a more user-oriented and functionally motivated approach. It can therefore be interpreted both as an instrument of normative continuity and as a response to the linguistic challenges generated by globalization, digital communication and accelerated language change.