What is the process of separating individual sounds in a word called?

The process of separating individual sounds in a word is known as segmenting. This skill involves breaking down a word into its constituent phonemes, allowing learners to identify and manipulate sounds. For example, when segmenting the word "cat," a student would recognize that it consists of three distinct sounds: /k/, /æ/, and /t/.

Segmenting is crucial for developing phonemic awareness, which is a fundamental skill for reading and writing. By mastering segmenting, students improve their ability to decode words, ultimately enhancing their overall reading proficiency. This skill is typically taught through various activities, such as clapping out syllables or using manipulatives to represent each sound in a word.

Blending refers to the process of putting sounds together to form a word, which is a different skill from segmenting. Phonemic awareness is the broader category that encompasses various skills, including both segmenting and blending, while sound identification refers to recognizing the sounds present in words without necessarily breaking them down into individual phonemes.