Abstract. The article examines instances of internal inconsistency in the contemporary Bulgarian standard language norm, with particular emphasis on orthographic and orthoepic codification. The discussion begins with the terms syncope and apocope, whose normative treatment reveals discrepancies between explanatory, orthographic, and specialized dictionaries. This case serves as a point of departure for a broader examination of the coherence of codified rules applied to structurally and semantically related linguistic units.
A distinction is made between natural inconsistencies, resulting from the historical development of the language, and artificial inconsistencies introduced at the level of codification. The analysis focuses on the latter. Examples are drawn from normative lexicography and include variation in accepted word forms, derivational patterns, solid and separate spelling, and the placement of lexical stress. The comparisons demonstrate that closely related words are often governed by different normative principles, making it difficult to identify a predictable and internally coherent system.
The article argues that linguistic codification should provide clarity, consistency, and predictability for language users. When these principles are not sufficiently observed, the acquisition and application of standard spelling and pronunciation become unnecessarily difficult. The conclusion emphasizes that the principal function of the standard norm is to facilitate clear and unambiguous communication. Excessive or insufficiently motivated normative differentiation may instead transform orthographic and orthoepic competence from a communicative tool into an end in itself.
Keywords: standard language norm; codification; orthography; orthoepy; normative dictionaries; variant forms; linguistic inconsistency; word stress; Bulgarian language
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