What is the alphabetic principle?

The alphabetic principle is the concept that

• speech can be turned into print
• print can be turned into speech, and
• letters represent sounds in the language.

• Concept module: alphabetic principle
• In overview module: Glossary (Literacy): A
• In modular book: Glossary of literacy terms
• In document collection: Reference materials
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 28 June 1999

© 1999 SIL International