Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

Which concept entails understanding the basic sound units of language?

1. Phonology

2. Phoneme

3. Phonograms

4. Phonological awareness

The correct answer is: Phonological awareness

The concept that entails understanding the basic sound units of language is phonological awareness. Phonological awareness refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds of spoken language, which includes the awareness of larger units such as words, syllables, onsets, and rhymes, as well as the smallest units of sound, known as phonemes. This skill is crucial for developing reading and writing abilities, as it helps learners understand that words are made up of sounds, making it easier for them to decode words during reading. Phonological awareness is a broader skill that encompasses phonemic awareness, which is specifically focused on the ability to identify and manipulate individual phonemes in words. While phonology addresses the study of sound systems in language more broadly, including the structure and pattern of sounds, phonological awareness specifically highlights the learner's ability to interact with and understand these sounds in a practical context. The distinction between these terms is important, as phonological awareness serves as a foundational skill for future literacy development.