What is meant by the alphabetic principle?

The alphabetic principle is a fundamental concept in reading instruction that refers to the understanding that letters and combinations of letters represent the sounds of spoken words. This principle is crucial for developing literacy skills as it enables individuals to decode written language by connecting sounds to their corresponding letters and words. Mastery of the alphabetic principle allows learners to recognize that written words are made up of sounds that can be represented visually with letters, which in turn helps them to read and write independently.

This understanding is foundational in learning to read in alphabetic languages, fostering the ability to sound out words and comprehend text. Developing this skill is typically one of the first steps in literacy education, forming the basis for more complex reading capabilities.