Decoding is also called:

• A. Alphabetic principle
• B. Phonics
• C. Phonemic awareness
• D. Syllable recognition

Answer: (A)

Decoding relies on mapping written letters to sounds in spoken language. This mapping rests on understanding that letters and letter patterns represent phonemes—the alphabetic principle. So when you decode, you’re applying that principle to translate written words into spoken words by blending the sounds of the letters. Phonics is the instructional method for teaching these letter-sound relationships, phonemic awareness is about hearing and manipulating sounds in isolation, and syllable recognition focuses on dividing words into syllables. The idea captured here is the fundamental relationship between letters and sounds that enables decoding, which is exactly what the alphabetic principle describes.