What study focuses on the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent?

Phonics is the study that specifically focuses on the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent. It is an essential component of reading instruction and involves teaching students how to decode words by understanding the connection between sounds (phonemes) and written language (graphemes). This approach helps learners recognize how letters are used to form sounds, enabling them to read words accurately.

Phonics instruction emphasizes this relationship by introducing sounds that correspond to specific letters or combinations of letters, guiding students in applying these rules during reading and writing activities. Mastery of phonics skills allows students to break down words into individual sounds and blend them back together, which is foundational for developing reading fluency and comprehension.

While phonological awareness broadly encompasses a range of skills related to hearing and manipulating sounds in speech, and orthography pertains to the correct spelling and writing of words, phonics is distinct in its focused approach to teaching how letters correspond to sounds. Pattern stories relate to narrative structure and may not directly address the alphabetic principles necessary for reading comprehension. Thus, phonics stands as the most relevant study regarding the relationship between letters and their associated sounds.