What is the definition of sound blending?

The definition of sound blending refers to the process of combining distinct sounds, or phonemes, to form a cohesive word. This skill is crucial in phonological awareness, as it allows learners to hear individual sounds in isolation and then synthesize those sounds together to articulate a word. For example, if a student is presented with the sounds /b/, /a/, and /t/, they would blend these sounds to produce the word "bat."

This blending process is essential in early literacy development, as it helps students understand the relationship between sounds and their corresponding written forms, ultimately facilitating reading skills. The other options focus on different aspects of phonemic awareness rather than the specific process of combining sounds into a whole word.