What skill allows individuals to sound out new words or interpret print into speech?

Decoding is the skill that enables individuals to convert printed text into spoken words. This process involves recognizing letters and their corresponding sounds, allowing readers to "sound out" unfamiliar words. Decoding is crucial in early literacy development as it provides the foundational ability to understand and articulate new vocabulary. Mastery of decoding skills leads to improved reading fluency and comprehension, as it empowers readers to independently approach and engage with new texts without relying solely on memorization of words.

Phonological awareness, another important skill, refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds of spoken language, but it does not specifically deal with converting text to speech. Onset and rime involve breaking down words into their initial sounds and the rest of the syllable but do not encompass the broader operation of reading from print to speech. Print awareness relates to understanding how print works and recognizing the forms of written language, which is foundational but separate from the actual process of sounding out words.