What describes the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent?

The term that best describes the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent is "Letter-Sound Correspondence." This concept is fundamental in understanding how written language correlates with spoken language. It encompasses the idea that specific letters or groups of letters correspond to specific sounds, which is essential for developing reading skills.

For instance, when teaching phonics, the focus is on helping students learn the sounds associated with individual letters and combinations of letters. This understanding lays the groundwork for decoding words during reading. In contrast, while "Graphophonemic" does relate to sounds and letters, it is often used in more specialized contexts regarding the written system more generally and may not directly emphasize the correspondence aspect as clearly.

"Phonics" is a broader instructional approach that incorporates letter-sound relationships but also extends to effective strategies for teaching these relationships in reading and writing. "Orthography," on the other hand, specifically refers to the conventional spelling system of a language and does not directly address the sound-letter connection.

Therefore, "Letter-Sound Correspondence" is the most precise term that encompasses the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent.