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Phonics

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Language is built upon a small collection of basic sounds known as phonemes, from which the word "phonics" derives. Every word in a language is composed of a collection of phonemes. On paper, a letter or group of letters is used to represent those sounds. This includes each letter of the alphabet, and combinations like "th", "ch", etc.

Phonics teaches learners to recognize the basic units of language, along with the rules for their combination. The set of rules is small and finite. Once the rules are mastered, no word is unmanageable, no matter how ridiculously long it may be because it breaks down into unmistakeable pieces. (Try "antidisestablishmentarianism" on for size.)

Phonics is really the natural way to learn language. It does require an investment in time and effort to get started, but it provides a solid understanding of words.

Whole language is really just a memorization method, so whereas in phonics you have to learn a small set of sounds and rules, whole language requires you to learn to recognize whole combinations of phonemes. The amount of memorization required here is enormous, because the number of possible combinations increases exponentially with the number of "building blocks". Whole language is a great technique for the tourist, who only needs to know and be able to use common phrases (which are a small and easy to learn set), but provides little depth of understanding of the language as a whole. The whole language reader is at a disadvantage when faced with a new word, for they lack the means to decipher it.

It might be simpler to illustrate the reading methods using math. Which technique would be more useful in learning math? A - learn the basic numbers and mathematical operations and how they work together, or B - memorize the answer to every possible math problem? Option A provides you with the tools to work any math problem, though you do still have to practice using those skills of course. Option B requires you to spend an eternity memorizing, for there really are an infinite number of math problems. The same truly does apply to reading, Phonics is option A, requiring practice and work, but providing a complete understanding, while option B (whole language) is rote memorization that gives you the answer without offering understanding.

Learn more about this author, Ernest Capraro.
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