Knowing how to convert to sounds to symbol combinations is a key to spelling.

Just as the key to reading is to know how to convert the symbols and symbol combinations seen in written words to the correct sounds, the key to spelling is to know how to convert the sounds one hears when a word is spoken to the correct symbols and symbol combinations.

While there are only 26 letters or symbols in the English alphabet, when all the different sounds produced are added together, they make over 80 single-symbol sounds - in excess of 102  symbol blends - as well as numerous additional sounds created by multi-symbol combinations.

To be able to spell well, one firstly has to be able to audibly detect the distinct sounds that a word makes when it is being pronounced.  This requires knowledge of both the regular, as well as the irregular sounds that single symbols, blends and multi-symbol combinations make.  Having targeted and recognized the sounds being spoken, the task then is to convert them to the correct symbols and symbol combinations.

Almost without exception, the reason why people cannot read or spell well is because they do not know which sounds particular symbols and symbol combinations are making in a word and vice versa.  A challenge facing anyone beginning to learn English or improve their literacy skills, is to learn the symbols and symbol combinations that produce more than one sound, e.g. “c” - “cat”, “city”, “cello”, “cuisine” — “er” - “her”, “very”, “serum” — “ou” - “mouse”, “soup”, “touch”, “fought”, “mould”, “could”, etc.

The task is even more challenging because different symbol combinations can make the same sound, e.g. the “air..” sound in “hair” is also made by “are” in “mare” and “ear” in “bear”, etc.  Again, the “or..” sound in “for” is also made by “oor” in “poor”, by “ore” in “core” and by “augh” in “daughter” and by many, many more  symbol combinations.

The 4S Primer and Audio Program and 4S Preparation Primer have been written with the specific purpose of teaching all the symbol combinations and the sounds found in English.  These books are user-friendly and begin with the basics.  They gradually move from the simple to the complex, from the known to the unknown, from the regular to the irregular and from the common to the uncommon.

Rhyme is a valuable spelling tool

Being able to apply the 4S Rhyming Technique and create sound families of words that are related to and rhyme with a “clue” word, is a very valuable spelling skill.
Songs and poems that have lines that rhyme are much easier to remember than prose or blank verse.  Similarly, the advantages of rhyme are seen in reading, spelling and pronunciation.
If a person knows the word “bank”, it is a very simple step to recognise words such as “thank” and “plank”.

Likewise, if one can spell “jam” because the basic symbol combination “am” is known, it is easy to build sound families of the dozens of other words e.g. dam, Pam, Sam, ram, pram, slam, cram, sham – camp, damp, ramp, cramp, stamp – damper, hamper, camper – hammer, stammer, etc.
By using the 4S Rhyming Technique, once the regular and irregular symbol combinations and sound signals are known, thousands of words can be built, spelt and pronounced correctly without difficulty.

The prerequisite is to know sounds made by the symbols, the blends and the basic symbol combinations.

As explained previously, different symbol combinations can produce the same sound.  Using “clue” words and sound families can significantly help learners to remember the differences, e.g. “ate” and “ait” — “gate” - mate, late, plate, slate; “wait” - bait, gait, strait.

In 4S, there are two requirements for words to belong to the same sound family. Not only must they rhyme but they must also end in the same symbol combination.

Even though “mane” and “main” rhyme and are homophonic, in 4S, they belong to different sound families.  The word “main” belongs to one of the “ain” sound families that include words such as pain, rain, stain, brain, train, etc., while “mane” belongs to a different sound family that includes words such as cane, lane, pane, sane, etc.

There is much to be gained by mastering the art of creating sound families.  Spelling and pronunciation skills are quickly enhanced as is the ability to recognise words and build a personal, superior lexicon.

E-mail contact@4Sliteracy.com.au for a free copy of the 4S Primer Alphabet Chart.
(The author Keith W. Wright is a former politician, an educator and the director of the Australian International Language Academy).