Which term describes the process of translating letters to sounds?

Which term describes the process of translating letters to sounds?

• A. Decoding
• B. Endowment
• C. Reading Comprehension
• D. fMRI

Answer: (A)

Translating letters into sounds is decoding. It involves mapping each letter or letter combination (grapheme) to its spoken sound (phoneme) and blending those sounds to form the word. This phonics-based skill is a foundational part of reading the letters aloud, or “sounding out,” and often becomes automatic with practice, allowing the reader to focus more on meaning as fluency grows. Endowment isn’t a reading process at all. Reading comprehension refers to understanding what is read after decoding, not the act of turning letters into sounds. fMRI is a brain-imaging method used in research, not a skill involved in translating text.

Translating letters into sounds is decoding. It involves mapping each letter or letter combination (grapheme) to its spoken sound (phoneme) and blending those sounds to form the word. This phonics-based skill is a foundational part of reading the letters aloud, or “sounding out,” and often becomes automatic with practice, allowing the reader to focus more on meaning as fluency grows.

Endowment isn’t a reading process at all. Reading comprehension refers to understanding what is read after decoding, not the act of turning letters into sounds. fMRI is a brain-imaging method used in research, not a skill involved in translating text.