What does a grapheme represent in literacy?

A grapheme represents the written letter(s) that correspond to a single speech sound, also known as a phoneme. In literacy, graphemes are essential for connecting spoken language with written text. For example, in the English language, the letter "b" can represent the phoneme /b/, while the combination of letters "ch" represents the phoneme /tʃ/. This correspondence between graphemes and phonemes is foundational for reading and writing, making it important for individuals learning to decode words and develop their literacy skills. Recognizing graphemes aids in understanding spelling patterns and helps learners make the connection between sounds and their written representation.