Which term refers to the ability to convert written symbols into spoken sounds using letter-sound relationships?

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Translating written symbols into spoken sounds by using letter-sound relationships is decoding. This skill comes from phonics understanding, where learners learn that letters or letter combinations represent specific sounds and can be blended to pronounce words. Decoding lets readers figure out unfamiliar words by sounding them out rather than guessing from context, which supports accurate and fluent reading. For example, recognizing the sounds of letters in a word like “cat” and blending them /k/ /æ/ /t/ to say the word demonstrates decoding in action. The other terms don’t describe this process: ciphering refers to code or secret writing rather than reading; Extrinsic Phonics isn’t the standard term for this decoding ability; a cloze task involves filling in missing words based on context, not translating print into speech.