What is meant by the "Alphabetic Principle"?

The concept referred to as the "Alphabetic Principle" is fundamentally about the relationship between sounds and letters, which enables individuals to decode written language. This principle underscores the understanding that each letter or group of letters corresponds to specific sounds within spoken words. By grasping these sound-letter connections, learners can effectively combine sounds to form words, facilitating reading and writing skills.

This foundation is critical in literacy development, as it allows individuals to make sense of written text and comprehend language at a deeper level. Mastery of the Alphabetic Principle is essential for transitioning from understanding single letters to recognizing and utilizing the phonetic components that constitute more complex words. This understanding forms the bedrock of phonics instruction, where learners are taught to relate sounds to their corresponding letters in various contexts.