Question 1 - Knowledge-Based Questions
1. Read pages 96 to 98 of 2025 Study Guide (Tutorial 501) and Chapter 12 of any edition
(2013-2025) of the prescribed text Wyse and et al, critically and reflectively in order to answer
the following questions.
A) Use two words to explain the relationship between English sounds (phonemes) and alphabets
(graphemes) in relation to spelling.
The relationship between English sounds (phonemes) and alphabets (graphemes) in relation to
spelling can be described as inconsistent and complex. The Study Guide states that English uses 26
letters to represent about 44 phonemes, making a simple one-to-one correspondence impossible. A
single letter may represent different sounds, such as 'c' pronounced as /k/ in "cup" or /s/ in "cellar."
Wyse et al (2013) further explain that the same phoneme can be spelled in various ways, like /k/
represented by 'k', 'c', 'ck', 'ch', or 'cc.' Silent letters, like 'b' in "comb," add to the complexity.
Therefore, English spelling demands awareness of inconsistent phoneme-grapheme relationships.
B) Explain how phonemic awareness influences the pronunciation of words in English.
Phonemic awareness significantly influences the pronunciation of words in English because it
involves the ability to hear, recognize, and manipulate individual sounds within words. The Study
Guide states that phonemic awareness is a primary auditory skill that enables speakers to distinguish
and recognize the sound structures of a language, which is essential for accurate pronunciation.
Without this awareness, it becomes difficult to correctly produce or blend sounds, leading to
mispronunciations. Strong phonemic awareness also helps speakers navigate the inconsistencies
between letters and sounds in English, ensuring clearer communication and reducing
misunderstandings.
C) From your knowledge of phonemic awareness after reading Chapter 12 of any edition of the
prescribed text above and pages 96 to 98 of 2025 Study Guide, give two words that you have
learned to spell correctly and two words that you have been mispronouncing.
After reading pages 96 to 98 of the 2025 Study Guide and Chapter 12 of Wyse et al (2013), I have
developed a better understanding of the relationship between phonemes and graphemes, which has
helped me improve both my spelling and pronunciation. Two words I have learned to spell correctly
are "doubt" and "though." The Study Guide explains how silent letters, like the 'b' in "doubt," often
cause spelling mistakes, while irregular spellings like the 'ough' combination in "though" show the
complexity of English phonetics.
Additionally, two words I realized I had been mispronouncing are "cellar" and "comb." The Study
Guide highlights that the letter 'c' can have different sounds, which helped me correct the
pronunciation of "cellar" with a soft 'c' sound instead of a hard one. Similarly, learning about silent
letters made me aware that the 'b' in "comb" is not pronounced. This growth in phonemic awareness
has made me more conscious of the inconsistencies in English spelling and pronunciation.