Which language processing requirement focuses on the sound structure of words?

Phonological processing is indeed the correct focus when discussing the sound structure of words. This area of language processing involves recognizing and manipulating sounds in spoken language, which is fundamental to reading and spelling. It includes various aspects such as the ability to isolate, blend, segment, and manipulate phonemes, which are the smallest units of sound in a language.

Phonological awareness is critical for developing reading skills because it allows learners to understand how sounds correspond to letters, thereby influencing their ability to decode words. This understanding plays a significant role in early literacy development, as students learn to blend sounds to form words, enabling them to read fluently.

In contrast, discourse refers to the structure and meaning of larger units of language beyond the word level, such as sentences and paragraphs. Syntactic processing involves the rules governing sentence structure and grammar, while semantic processing focuses on understanding meanings of words and sentences. Each of these other aspects plays an essential role in language and literacy, but none specifically target the sound structure of words as phonological processing does.