Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

Which process involves breaking down spoken words into their individual parts?

1. Rhyme

2. Phonological awareness

3. Segmentation

4. Pseudoword

The correct answer is: Segmentation

The process of breaking down spoken words into their individual parts is known as segmentation. This involves taking a word and splitting it into its constituent sounds or syllables, which is a crucial skill for developing reading and writing abilities. Segmentation allows learners to identify the building blocks of words, making it easier for them to decode and spell. For instance, when a child hears the word 'cat', segmentation enables them to recognize it is composed of three distinct sounds: /k/, /æ/, and /t/. This skill is vital in early literacy development because understanding the components of spoken language aids in the transition to reading and writing, where similar processes of sound manipulation occur. Phonological awareness encompasses a broader range of skills, including recognizing and manipulating larger units of sound like syllables and rhymes, but segmentation specifically hones in on the individual sounds. Rhyme involves working with sounds at the end of words, and pseudoword typically refers to non-words created for the purpose of testing phonetic awareness and decoding skills rather than breaking down spoken language.