Decoding is primarily concerned with converting written words into sounds, which is a crucial skill in the process of reading. This involves recognizing letters and letter combinations, and accurately sounding them out to articulate the words. When a reader decodes a word, they analyze its spelling and phonetic components, allowing them to pronounce it correctly. This skill is fundamental for beginning readers, as it lays the groundwork for fluency and comprehension.
Other options, while related to literacy and language skills, focus on different aspects. Creating new sounds pertains to phonemic awareness and not directly to the process of decoding. Writing sentences from sounds relates more to the process of encoding and spelling, while understanding text meaning involves comprehension, which occurs after decoding has taken place. Thus, the essence of decoding lies in transforming written language into its auditory counterparts.