A grapheme is a phoneme’s symbol (for instance, /b/ for the alphabet ‘b’ or /f/ for ‘ph’ in ‘physics’). The name grapheme is given to a letter or a group of letters representing a phoneme. For instance, the word “ghost” has four graphemes (“gh,” “o,” “s,” and “t”) and five letters. There’s a lot more variability in written languages’ structure than spoken languages. Typically, instructors teach beginners grapheme-phoneme correspondences when they start school. Those associations are easier to learn if kids already know the letters’ names because most letter names have relevant sounds. Graphemes can cause a contrast in meaning. Switching from bat to cat introduces a meaning change in the English alphabet.
Therefore, b and c represent different graphemes. Lots of grapheme-phoneme correspondences are conditional. A given phoneme’s spelling relies on the speech sounds that come after or before the target grapheme-phoneme correspondence. For example, short vowels are often followed by doubled consonants in closed syllables (doll, stuff, and mess). This pattern is called an orthographic convention. The additional letters don’t correspond to additional sounds.
Comprehending how graphemes map to phonemes is vital for learning to read. Teachers can utilize the following strategies to help students achieve this goal:
Systematic teaching: It’s important to take a systematic approach when teaching grapheme-phoneme correspondences. A systematic approach begins with a clearly planned sequence of phonic components that build uniformly from simple to complex. Teachers should check for student understanding, ensure successful and active participation of all learners, and allow time to practice the new skills and knowledge.
Appropriate pronunciation of phonemes: Beginners acquire letter-sound knowledge through matching their phonological memory with their visual memory. They need to know how to produce phonemes in isolation and how to pronounce those phonemes correctly. Teachers should carefully articulate phonemes to facilitate the important phonemic awareness skills of segmenting and blending.
Mapping exercises: A grapheme-phoneme mapping exercise is an effective tool for demonstrating to early readers the graphemes’ functions and their relationships to phonemes. This kind of activity is important due to the following reasons:
- Starts with sound segmentation and ends with traditional orthography
- Provides clear, multi-sensory instruction about the alphabetic principle
- Helps learners to develop strong spelling skills
- Helps to make linguistic principles stronger for students
Before kids can attempt a mapping exercise, they need to know letter sounds and segment words orally. A vital part of this process is the graphemes’ anchoring to the phoneme sequence in spoken words.
