In linguistics, what do we call a written symbol (such as a letter or digraph) that represents a speech sound?

Introduction / Context:
This question is about basic terminology in linguistics and language teaching. It asks for the term used for a written symbol that represents a speech sound. In the study of reading and spelling, it is important to distinguish between sounds and letters or letter combinations that stand for those sounds. Knowing the correct term helps in understanding topics such as phonics and spelling patterns.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The description is "a symbol that represents a speech sound".
• The options are "Phonemes", "Grapheme", "Phonics", and "None of the above".
• We assume standard linguistic definitions.
• We need the specific technical term for the written unit, not the sound unit.

Concept / Approach:
In linguistics, a "phoneme" is the smallest unit of sound that can distinguish meaning, such as the difference between /p/ and /b/. A "grapheme" is the smallest unit of writing that represents a phoneme or a speech sound, such as the letter "p" or a combination like "sh". "Phonics" is the method or approach to teaching reading by connecting sounds with letters or groups of letters. Therefore, the answer to the question about a written symbol that stands for a speech sound is "grapheme".

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question emphasizes a "symbol" rather than the sound itself.Step 2: Recall that "phoneme" refers to a unit of sound at the level of pronunciation, not writing.Step 3: Recall that "grapheme" refers to the smallest unit of the writing system that corresponds to a sound, such as letters and certain letter combinations.Step 4: Recognize that "phonics" is a method or approach, not a single symbol or unit.Step 5: Since the question clearly points to the written representation, select "Grapheme" as the correct term.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider the word "ship". In phonemic terms, it can be represented by the sounds /sh/, /i/, and /p/. Each of these is a phoneme. In written form, the letters "s" and "h" together form the grapheme "sh" that stands for the /sh/ sound. Similarly, "i" and "p" act as graphemes for their respective sounds. When teachers talk about grapheme phoneme correspondence, they are describing how each grapheme (symbol) matches a phoneme (sound). "Phonics" refers to the teaching system that uses these correspondences, not the symbol itself. This pattern confirms that the correct label for a written symbol representing a speech sound is "grapheme".

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Phonemes" is wrong because phonemes are sound units, not written symbols. They belong to the spoken side of language. "Phonics" is wrong because it names an instructional method that connects symbols and sounds, rather than the symbols themselves. "None of the above" is wrong because there is a clearly correct term among the options, namely "Grapheme".

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners mix up "phoneme" and "grapheme" because both appear in discussions of reading and pronunciation. The key distinction is that phoneme refers to sound and grapheme refers to writing. Some students also see "phonics" and assume it must be the technical term they need, but phonics is the teaching approach, not the individual letter or symbol. A helpful memory trick is that "graph" is related to writing and drawing, so "grapheme" must be about written forms, while "phono" relates to sound, so "phoneme" must be about sound units.

Final Answer:
The written symbol that represents a speech sound is called a Grapheme.